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THE closure of a police enquiry office in Tyrone has been slammed by UUP MLA, Tom Elliott.
Last week, the PSNI announced that they are to close 11 of their Enquiry Offices across the North, including the one in Dungannon.
The move, deemed a cost-cutting measure by Mr Elliott, has raised significant concerns regarding the accessibility of policing services, particularly in rural areas.
“The fact that the Dungannon office is extremely busy makes the decision hard to understand,” said Mr Elliott.
He added, “Policing is currently significantly understrength from what the Patten recommendations were. This decision is a further blow to public confidence in the service, and indeed a negative aspect to serving police officers.”
In response, Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton cited the financial and resource pressures faced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
He also emphasised the necessity of difficult decisions amid shrinking resources, reassuring the public that police officers and staff “will continue to serve the community”, albeit with changes in service levels.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We are conscious there may be an actual or perceived loss of accessibility, visibility, and ability to respond to the needs of the community,” said Mr Singleton.