Three police front counter closures set for Oxfordshire - but Banbury safe

Thames Valley Police will soon change some of the ways in which people can access the front counter services across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

A TVP statement said it is adapting to the different ways people now wish to make contact with them.

As part of these changes, the force will retain its front counters at Banbury, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Reading, Slough, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Abingdon, Newbury, Loddon Valley and Maidenhead, however some will experience changes to their opening hours.

Front counters at Amersham, Bicester, Bracknell, HQ South in Kidlington, and Witney will close. These counters have already been closed since March 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, with the exception of HQ South in Kidlington, which reopened following an initial closure.

These changes, which were subject to a public consultation, will be implemented from August 30, 2021.

These changes do not affect police officer numbers or the number of operational police bases so you will not experience any difference in the ongoing commitment they have to visible policing in the Thames Valley communities.

There will continue to be good geographic coverage of front counters across the Thames Valley if people need to access one.

If anyone is required to sign on bail at a front counter affected by closure, they will need to attend another front counter location.

There are a number of convenient alternative ways to contact Thames Valley Police. More people have started to contact the police online and by phone.

Access to a number of the TVP core services is also available through their website here: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/This includes reporting non-emergency crimes or incidents, anti-social behaviour, applying for firearms licensing, telling us about something of concern or updating us on a crime report, among many other functions.

The police non-emergency number is 101. In an emergency always dial 999.