THE FUTURE of the front desk at Harlow Police Station remains uncertain.

In February, we reported that Harlow MP Chris Vince had written to the Essex Police Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, regarding the future of the first desk (see below).

As the MP had a recent meeting with senior police officers at Harlow Police Station, we asked him how things were progressing?

Mr Vince said: “This was an operational decision taken by Roger Hirst even though he has received more funding from the government this year than Essex has received in many years previously.

I am deeply concerned in the reduction of hours of the Harlow front desk, and I have made my thoughts known to Roger regarding these issues.

I know it comes as little comfort, there will still be some operation at the front desk and I believe this is due to the pressure put on by Essex Labour MPs to Roger in the recent budgeting process.

“I will continue to lobby Mr Hirst for the hours to be reinstated back to the front desk, which I am sure that the residents of Harlow would like to see”.

We asked Roger Hirst’s office for a comment but they said that as this was an operation matter, we need to speak to Essex Police.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “Proposals are still being worked through and there’s no final decision on any front counter closures as of yet”.

YH will continue to ask questions as we understand that the front desk is set to close and that a provisional date has been set.

For many of our readers, a front desk at a police station is vitally important for a number of reasons, the least of which is public reassurance and a sense of safety.

There are also a number of logistical questions such as: should the front desk close: where do those who attend to sign the sex offenders register go?