Harlow police station front counter set to close with job losses
Crime / Tue 1st Jul 2025 at 04:03pm
FOUR police front counters will be scrapped in Essex, and nine staff will be made redundant.
In an announcement on Tuesday (July 1), Essex Police said front counters at Braintree, Clacton, Basildon, and Harlow Police Stations will be closed from July 11. The force is also closing its counters within the offices of Uttlesford and Maldon councils.
Essex Police says these stations will not close down and will remain open to staff, officers and other workers. The front counters at Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend and Grays Police Stations will remain open and unchanged.
Police say that the number of people using the front counters across the county to report a new crime and or give information has been falling. In October 2022, 8,722 people were recorded going to front desks, much higher than the 6,703 people who went to front desks in January this year. Essex Police said that of those 6,703 visitors to its front desks, just 203 were to report a new crime or to give a piece of intelligence.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper announced the decision to scrap over half of its front desks at a media briefing at police headquarters in Chelmsford on July 1.
He said: “I recognise front counters can be symbolic to our communities. But I think the benefit particularly around investing in our local policing teams, the opportunity to be more visible, more local, [and have] more engagement. I hope through that our communities will be reassured that they will see the officers patrolling and that’s what they are telling us as well.”
Speaking of the redundancies, ACC Hooper added: “I’ve got to recognise the staff, because they have provided an absolutely first-class service to our communities, have been through very difficult circumstances in terms of a business case and the impact that has on people. They have been through a business case and we have made reductions in our headcounts.”
He did not rule out police stations closing in the future and said: “For us it’s about providing a neighbourhood policing presence and presence in our communities. The decisions we’ve made are based on where we are at the moment, but it’s important to us that we provide policing resource to all communities, it doesn’t necessarily need to be fixed around a building.”
Peter
2025-07-01 16:34:37
Perhaps it is me but we really need more explanation. Does the removal of front counter staff mean that the public cannot go to a police station, or can we still go but instead of a "receptionist" we can just ring a bell and on an duty office will answer, either in person or via intercom?
Resident
2025-07-01 16:43:33
It's a good job there's very little crime or antisocial behaviour. Oh, hang on
gary roberts
2025-07-01 16:52:59
There are times when you believe it is a fiction and that it will all turn out well in this broken society they call England. I then woke up and found nothing had changed. I think it started with the closure of both the Magistrates and county courts in this town then the removal of neighbourhood policing and now access to police officers. Broken England was non-fiction and after years of struggle across the board a ticket to Vancouver is urgently needed.
Jason Fryer
2025-07-01 17:07:17
Disgraceful- with all the crime surely those 9 could be moved to other roles. This town is getting bigger and more dangerous to live in yet our police services are being downgraded
Vincent Hurley
2025-07-01 18:03:06
Essex Police and other forces ask the Question why people aren’t going into police stations reporting issues & criminal activity , because they have lost faith in the police. . Report on line call crime stoppers , No we want to see a proper police officer . We haven’t seen foot patrol in Harlow for years . So impossible to talk to an officer .some believe Residents of Harlow are totally ignored if they speak up . How frustrating for Harlow Law abiding citizens now to be told you’re no longer welcome at Harlow police station , and yet when ever you pass a line of police cars parked up , and now refurbished taking place . And yes Mr Roberts is right No magistrate court sends out all the wrong signals . No justice
justice 4 the people
2025-07-01 18:34:42
so what send the cunts on the dole make them look for work ..
Jasper
2025-07-01 20:14:19
How do people who have to visit a police station for whatever purpose do now. Chelmsfords a trot and with the added expense people will not go there. The population of the town is going to increase but there will be less face to face. It can only go one way and that's downhill
John
2025-07-01 20:31:11
It's about right less work for the police to do and then they wonder why there is so much crime in harlow it's a joke why don't they shut the old police station get it over and done with because the police are never about when you need them.
Adrienne
2025-07-01 21:43:35
There's a worrying issue with the shutting down of service industries everywhere.As far as I can gather the police have been amalgamated with the fire station because it was easier for them to operate in emergencies.Do we have to pay for services that we don't receive. It is essentially a cut. With people having to put up with an online faceless service. I was watching a house of Lords debate today. They were talking about a 7 percent rise in private rent next year which equated to around _£93 pounds a month. With they were saying that you will have to go toys tribunetal do dispute it.And putting extra pressure on people who are struggling to afford their rents.Well if we haven't got a local court hoe are we supposed y do that.they were trying to oppose the rise and the court system on its knees this will bring mass evictiond to the people and even more homeless is this an intentional movement. With py being evicted because there properties are supposedly unsafe.Then with the other hand re renting the property. It seems to me that it is an intentional way to get a price hike installed. And with no redress for the residents that are made homeless. Such as in the case of Redstone house and another building of residence in town. Are they just being moved on by the back door. Bit suspicious isn't it.,????????
Jasper
2025-07-01 21:59:53
Strange that the boy of the moment Cll Swords has nothing to say on this, or ANY of our elected ensemble. How much do these elected lot think of the people they are supposed to serve. Nothing by the look of it.
David Forman
2025-07-01 22:13:14
I would like the police to solve more crimes. Maybe sealing off a crime scene and having forensic science officers comb the place for evidence when they find dead people slumped on the ground might help. I refer to the John Palmer murder 10 years ago, which is no nearer being solved. Whilst I'm on the subject, neither has the Dr Shakoor family arson been solved. It is over 12 years ago and no new leads. A reminder https://www.essex.police.uk/police-forces/essex-police/areas/essex-police/au/about-us/cold-and-unsolved/the-shakoor-family/
RJC
2025-07-02 06:43:53
Not enough crime in Harlow for a police station then ?
Mrs Black
2025-07-02 11:33:47
I find this absolutely appalling especially seeing as Harlow is deemed one of the worst places to live due to crime. The one thing that has to be noted is that the closing of front desks in Police Stations does not affect the Police as they are staffed by Ancillary workers and it's those people who will be losing their jobs. Very poor state of affairs both for the Police and for Harlow residents.
Concerned Citizen
2025-07-02 18:30:00
Essex Police knew this was happening in February this year but chose to release the news 10 days before closure MP Chris Vince also knew in February as did Your Harlow
Jasper
2025-07-02 19:51:37
Concerned Citizen, An old saying comes to mind when it comes to politians or councillors. We are treated like Mushrooms. Fed on S##T and kept in the dark
Seamus
2025-07-03 15:36:29
As predicted. The front office first, then the police station, then the job centre and then hmrc. Next thing you know Dan will be pictured infront of a pile of rubble where all those buildings once stood and talking about a new block of flats development on the now cleared footprint. To councillor Hannah Ellis I say watch out. You stood at the last minute to be Harlow's mp. I believe that is Dan Swords next step, to get out of Harlow council before all his dominoes fall down by becoming its MP.
Jasper
2025-07-03 15:42:30
God help us all
Leona Kris
2025-07-06 17:25:53
Funny thing is, this was predicted and foretold before Brexit came to be. The closure of police offices, stations and facilities, as well as many other main and integral parts of societal function. Brexit is the sole defining issue for the UK, and, since 52% of the country is as stupid as they appear - the fault, blame and responsibility lay with them. Well done! You really all got those sunlit uplands! The big bad EU is really, really struggling without you! :-) Oh... Wait. No, it's not.
Adrienne
2025-07-09 15:33:04
I don't even God could sort out this mess.Remember he only worked seven days . And forgot to cancel his son's airport ticket.
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