Residents concerned about the future of Hexham Police Station have been reassured that the town’s policing hub is not facing closure. Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said there are “no plans at all” to shut the station.
The confirmation comes after widespread speculation about the station’s future. Ms Dungworth also said there were no plans to close police stations in any Northumbria Police area, although she acknowledged that some stations were moving. She said those changes were predominantly taking place south of the River Tyne, rather than in Northumberland.
What the PCC said about Hexham
Ms Dungworth’s comments were made during her recently launched Community Catch Up consultation. The consultation has brought forward concerns from residents about the number of officers visible in their communities, how people contact the police and the service they receive.
She said residents had called for more officers on the streets, but rejected the suggestion that the number of officers carrying out street-based policing had fallen.
“There has been no reduction of police officers on the streets; in fact, there has been an increase in police officers on the streets,”
Ms Dungworth said police recruitment had increased significantly over the previous two years, with that recruitment focused predominantly on neighbourhood policing. She added that staffing levels had not returned to those seen in 2010.
The PCC said both she and the current Chief Constable were committed to neighbourhood policing. She also recognised that maintaining a visible policing presence was more difficult in rural and isolated parts of West Northumberland than in market towns such as Hexham.
Why the reassurance follows wider policing concerns
The update follows criticism after Northumberland’s last remaining custody suite, at Bedlington Police Station, closed in June. Prudhoe councillor Gordon Stewart described that closure as “another step in the continuing erosion of police cover in Northumberland”.
Northumbria Police said a detailed review had found that the Bedlington custody suite was not the most effective or efficient use of resources. The force also said it remained “fully committed” to Northumberland, a position Ms Dungworth repeated while addressing concerns about policing in rural communities.
Rural policing in West Northumberland
Alongside neighbourhood officers, Northumbria Police has a rural police team working in Northumberland. Ms Dungworth described the team and neighbourhood officers as the force’s “daily eyes and ears” across the county.
For Hexham residents, the latest statement means there is currently no announced plan to close the police station. However, the PCC’s comments also underline the practical challenge of providing neighbourhood policing across widely spread rural and isolated communities. The Community Catch Up consultation has highlighted that residents want continued visibility, accessible contact with police and a reliable service.