This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6172079.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police station closures revealed Police station closures revealed
(40 minutes later)
Some 880 police stations in England and Wales have closed in the past 14 years, the Home Office has said.Some 880 police stations in England and Wales have closed in the past 14 years, the Home Office has said.
But 376 have opened since 1992 making a net loss of 504 stations by this March.But 376 have opened since 1992 making a net loss of 504 stations by this March.
Most stations only open during the day. At the weekend a man died after being attacked near Henley police station, which was closed for the night.Most stations only open during the day. At the weekend a man died after being attacked near Henley police station, which was closed for the night.
The Home Office said the emphasis was on "officers on the streets" rather than keeping stations not "fulfilling as useful a purpose as they were". The Police Federation said closing stations made the public feel less safe. The Home Office said the emphasis was on "officers on the streets".
Closing police stations is often a false economy and does nothing to reassure the public Police Federation
There were 1,758 police stations in England and Wales in March of this year.There were 1,758 police stations in England and Wales in March of this year.
Of the 880 closures, 516 were under the Labour government while 364 were under the last Tory government.Of the 880 closures, 516 were under the Labour government while 364 were under the last Tory government.
Of the 376 stations opened since 1992, 298 opened under Labour while 78 opened under the Conservatives.Of the 376 stations opened since 1992, 298 opened under Labour while 78 opened under the Conservatives.
Some of the new stations are multi-million pound divisional headquarters.Some of the new stations are multi-million pound divisional headquarters.
The Police Federation's Jan Berry said: "It's important that the police are available for the public when needed.
"Closing police stations is often a false economy and does nothing to reassure the public."
Local police stations had become a casualty of "an approach by government and chief officers who all too often see policing as a business rather than a service," she added.
Public surveyPublic survey
The Home Office spokeswoman said decisions over whether to keep stations open were "a matter for police authorities". But a Home Office spokeswoman said the number of station closures was "not entirely odd".
"The emphasis is on getting officers on the streets rather than keeping stations open that aren't fulfilling as useful a purpose as they were," she added.
She said decisions over whether to keep stations open were "a matter for police authorities".
"Things they take into account are whether a police station has deteriorated and whether a location isn't as useful as it used to be," she said."Things they take into account are whether a police station has deteriorated and whether a location isn't as useful as it used to be," she said.
"They don't do it without taking a public survey first.""They don't do it without taking a public survey first."
Increasing public awareness that police stations are often not open after dark comes on top of government cuts to the promised number of police community support officers Nick CleggLib Dem home affairs spokesmanIncreasing public awareness that police stations are often not open after dark comes on top of government cuts to the promised number of police community support officers Nick CleggLib Dem home affairs spokesman
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the ability of the police to be accessible to the public was being hampered by "cutbacks".Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the ability of the police to be accessible to the public was being hampered by "cutbacks".
"Increasing public awareness that police stations are often not open after dark comes on top of government cuts to the promised number of police community support officers and withdrawal of Home Office funding for the single non-emergency number.""Increasing public awareness that police stations are often not open after dark comes on top of government cuts to the promised number of police community support officers and withdrawal of Home Office funding for the single non-emergency number."
In the early hours of Saturday morning, 43-year-old Stephen Langford was fatally attacked near Henley police station.In the early hours of Saturday morning, 43-year-old Stephen Langford was fatally attacked near Henley police station.
Police officers were working inside the station which was closed to the public.
They rushed to the scene when a member of the public alerted them to the attack but it was too late to prevent it.
James Diggins, 19, of Devon Drive, Caversham Park, Reading, and a 17-year-old youth have both been charged with murder.James Diggins, 19, of Devon Drive, Caversham Park, Reading, and a 17-year-old youth have both been charged with murder.
They were due to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.They were due to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.