Police welcomed to Warwickshire Direct
Warwickshire Police is teaming up with Warwickshire Direct to ensure that as many people as possible have access to services when they need it.
On Monday, December 7, the services currently available from the front desk at Warwick police station will relocate to Warwickshire Direct in Shire Hall, Warwick, on Market Square.
In a bid to give local people the chance to access as many services as possible as easily as possible, the new arrangement has been made and becomes a first for Warwickshire.
Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Customers, Workforce and Partnerships, said: “We have been talking to Warwickshire Police for some time and this is great news to see them joining the Warwickshire Direct fold.
“This will mean that from December 7 people will not only be able to talk about county council matters, district council issues, use the Post Office, or Citizens Advice Bureau, they will also have access to many services currently offered on the Warwick police station front desk.
“This is about improving the service offered, and a clear part of our commitment to put customers first.”
Cllr Timms’ audio clip - mp3, 454Kb
Superintendent Andy Johnson, of Warwickshire Police, said: “This is a unique opportunity for Warwickshire Police and this type of partnership is the first of its kind in the county. We welcome this opportunity to be part of Warwickshire Direct at Shire Hall.
“We believe that providing all services at one location will provide a better service for the public and enable us to offer greater levels of protection.
“This is the first of a number of opportunities that we will be exploring to work with our partners to provide an integrated service to the community and each will be considered fully as it is identified.
“This move will help us better understand the needs of the local community whilst we develop this unique service.”
Superintendent Johnson audio clip - mp3, 883Kb
Download transcripts - Word, 21Kb
The move to Shire Hall will mean a number of improvements, including longer opening hours, and access to surgeries with Police Community Support Officers on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
A recent study found that an average of just 12 people a day are visiting the Warwick police station front desk, and about a quarter of these visits are simply to ask advice or directions.
Other services that will move to Warwickshire Direct include accepting lost and found property, checking vehicle documents when police officers have asked for them to be produced and taking reports of road traffic collisions.
Other issues which are frequently reported at Warwick police station such as abandoned vehicles and parking issues, are already being dealt with at Warwickshire Direct.
The front desk at Warwickshire Direct will be able to deal with visitors directly, signpost them to police services, or offer a private interview room for more personal matters (something not available at Warwick police station).
This kind of partnership is pioneering in its nature, but follows good practice developed in Worcestershire with ‘The Hub’ which offers a similar service.
For more information on Warwickshire Direct services visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/warwickshiredirect
Services provided by Warwickshire Direct include:
Registering for Council Tax, applying for housing and Council Tax benefit, applying for a disabled parking badge, arranging for the collection of bulky household items, viewing planning applications, reporting highway problems, finding out about refuse and recycling collections, apply for a national bus pass, reporting an abandoned vehicle, information on compost bins and the home woodchipping service.
Plus there are the many postal, business, travel and insurance services on offer from the Post Office, including: car tax and licences, pensions and benefits, letters and parcels – special delivery, mail direction, travel – insurance, bureau de change with 0% commission free on foreign currency, passport check and send business – Parcelforce worldwide, special delivery 9am, banking services – moneygram and gift vouchers