A SENIOR police officer today quashed speculation over the future of Driffield’s police station.
Sources close to Humberisde Police had suggested that plans were being considered to move “Incident Response” officers from the town and base them elsewhere.
This has led to fears that Driffield would not be routinely patrolled - and that the police station might eventually close..
But Superintendent for the East Riding Darren Downs said: “I can categorically confirm that there are, and never have been any plans to close Driffield Police Station or Beverley Police Station. These stations remain an integral part of neighbourhood policing for the East Riding.
“At this time we have no plans to remove any officers from Driffield police station. However, as cuts to public funding continues across the country. Humberside Police regularly review and asses the locations of police officers to ensure that they are providing the correct level of response in the appropriate areas.
Supt Downs said: “This means that in order for police officers to cover the 900 square miles of the East Riding officers can be moved to a different area to assist with the policing requirements of the division. This may, at times, mean that officers from Beverley and Driffield are redeployed elsewhere on a day to day basis. This is something that has been carried out across the force for a number of years and will continue to be part of daily policing.”
His statement answered speculation in the town.
One person, who did not wish to be named, told the Driffield Times and Post: “I believe that your readers will be interested in plans currently being made by senior officers within the East Riding Division of the Humberside Police.
“It is their intention to remove all officers currently employed in “incident response” at the smaller police stations and centralise them at just three stations - Goole, Priory Road, Hull, and Bridlington.
“This will mean that Driffield’s 10 uniformed officers will be stationed at Bridlington, and calls for service from residents of Driffield, Wold Newton to Brandesburton and Skipsea to Fimber will be responded to from officers in Bridlington.
“It is envisaged that Driffield will not be routinely patrolled.”
The source added: “Three police officers in the neighbourhood policing team will remain at Driffield, but they do not work over a 24 hour period, and plans are afoot to reduce their number too.