Restore Redditch's police front desk
Standing up for safer streets and stronger community policing across Redditch and the Villages
When something goes wrong - your car’s been broken into, something doesn’t feel right in your street or you’ve seen something that could help prevent crime - you should be able to walk into your local police station and talk to a real person. That’s the kind of service people in Redditch expect and deserve. But right now, you can’t.
At the end of September, our town got a brand-new joint Police and Fire Station - a modern building that should have been a proud symbol of investment in community safety. Instead, residents are left asking one simple question: where’s the front desk?
Join our campaign to restore the police counter in Redditch
Why this matters
Closed doors and no easy public access send the wrong message about community policing. I’ve heard from residents and businesses who are angry and frustrated. Try reporting a crime online when you’re elderly or not confident with technology. Try calling 101 and waiting half an hour in a queue. For too many people, these so-called “digital solutions” are barriers that stop them getting help.
We already face a real problem with under-reporting in Redditch. Time and again, people tell me they didn’t report something because they didn’t think it would be acted on. But the police can’t deal with what they don’t know. Without proper face-to-face contact, crimes and antisocial behaviour go unrecorded and the problem often looks smaller on paper than it feels on our streets.
This is no criticism of our hardworking local police officers. They’re out there every day and night, tackling organised crime, protecting vulnerable people and keeping our community safe. The issue isn’t their dedication; it’s about giving them the right tools and public connection to build on that trust and success.
Our letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner - October 2025
Over the years, front counters have closed across West Mercia due to funding pressures and reduced footfall. But now is the time to rebuild the link between the police and the public. A visible, welcoming front counter isn’t a luxury - it’s a vital part of building trust and keeping people safe.
That’s why I’ve joined forces with Redditch Borough Council leader Sharon Harvey and councillors from across the political spectrum to push for the instatement of a public front counter in our town's police station. Our goal is simple: to make sure everyone can access policing when they need it.
I’ve also raised this issue in Parliament. When new funding for policing becomes available, Redditch must get its fair share and it must go towards making policing accessible, visible and community-focused.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about working together to strengthen the relationship between the police and the people they serve. Redditch deserves a police service that is open, connected and trusted and I’ll keep fighting to make that happen.
