SURREY Police’s decision to close its only ‘front counter’ service for Waverley residents, has been branded “disgusting” by a former police officer, in light of the proposed 5.3 per cent increase to Surrey Police’s share of council tax.

From March 31, the nearest manned front counter will be in Guildford and the only way to make immediate contact with the police from the current facility at Waverley Borough Council offices in Godalming, will be via a “yellow phone”.

Haslemere police station closed in 2012 and the town’s police HQ was relocated to the borough council’s locality office in Wey Hill, which was shut to the public.

Announcing the decision, which will also see the front counters in Dorking, Camberley, Caterham and Addlestone shut, a Surrey Police spokesman said: “It should be reiterated it is the front counters only that are closing.

“The neighbourhood police team for Haslemere, Chiddingfold and Grayswood is unaffected.

“So if people were to go to Godalming, there will be the yellow phone for immediate contact. Also there are reporting functions via 101, the website and, of course, in an emergency, 999.”

“As part of the continual drive to ensure Surrey Police can deliver a policing service as efficiently as possible, and recognising the ongoing budget challenges, it is important to review our overall estate including the locations we share with our borough partners.

“In 2011, Surrey Police reduced the number of front counters to 12. This has recently been assessed to monitor the demand on those 12 and there are five which are consistently seeing on average 1.5 people, or fewer, per hour.

“Those five locations, Godalming, Camberley, Caterham, Dorking and Addlestone will see the police front counter presence close as of March 31, but alternative ways of contacting the police will continue to be available, including online reporting, retaining yellow phones at those locations, as well as calling us directly.

“To close any front counter is not a decision taken lightly and it is recognised when it comes to accessing our service, one size does not fit all.

“However we have a responsibility to be as efficient with our funding as we can be.”

Condemning the closures, borough councillor Robert Knowles, who worked for Surrey Police for 39 years as an officer and a civilian staff member, said: “I was a superintendent at Godalming when there were 40 to 50 officers, including 10 sergeants. When I was working, there were 14 constables for Haslemere and six for Hindhead.

“I’m disgusted that now there will not even be a front counter for Waverley. Waverley is the largest borough district in Surrey and we will no longer be able to see the police there.

“Surrey Police Crime Commissioner David Munro now wants to put the tax up, myself and many others I know, have responded to the consultation to say we object. What are they doing for us?”

Mr Munro launched a consultation in December proposing a 5.3 per cent precept increase for 2018/19, which equates to £12 on a Band D council tax bill, to “help protect front line policing” and create a “more sustainable” service.

Mr Munro said: “Surrey Police are faced with having to make significant savings of £5.3million over the next year and we have a duty to make the policing service as efficient as possible for our residents.

“Inevitably within that, some difficult choices have to be made.

“I can assure residents the provision of front counters across the county has been examined in detail in terms of the number of people using them on a daily basis – and the subsequent decision to close some locations has been given very careful consideration.

“In the current financial climate, we must ensure every pound counts and the public get value for money from their local force.

“I will be paying close attention going forward to make sure those alternative ways local communities in these areas can access their local policing service are working as effectively as possible.”