THE front counter of Droitwich Spa Police Station will be available for 18 fewer hours per week after new opening times came into effect.

Cuts to the times when people can visit police stations across the county were approved by West Mercia Police Authority in February as part of a force-wide overhaul.

The new opening times, which started from Wednesday, August 1, will mean Droitwich’s Ombersley Street East station will be closed on Mondays but will open later on Thursdays.

The shake-up will also see counters opening later in the evenings some days. Police stations will still be staffed for the same amount of time, just not visibly open to the public.

Ch Supt Trevor Albutt said: “The change to public service counter opening times will not affect local policing and all police stations will remain operational.

“We want to make sure we offer a good service to the public and be as accessible as possible. Visiting your local police station service counter in person is not the only way to get in touch with us.

“West Mercia Police is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via a variety of contact channels.”

Where opening hours have been reduced, alternative services will be provided including telephone links outside police stations and information stands.

Local policing teams can be contacted via e-mail, voicemail, at events and surgeries, Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings and via diary appointments, which can be arranged at stations.

For non-emergencies dial 101 or visit westmercia.police.uk for more information. The force can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.