CAMELFORD'S Neighbourhood Policing Team will soon be on the move.

The team of two police officers and two PCSOs are set to transfer from the town's police station to an office in Camelford Community School on Dark Lane.

The move will see the closure of Camelford Police Station but it has been stressed that current staffing levels and, consequently the service to the public, will be maintained.

The announcement comes as Devon and Cornwall Police are faced with having to make savings of £44million over the next four years as part of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review.

At present, the annual running costs for Camelford Police Station are £11,000, whereas it is anticipated that the new office will cost £4,000 a year.

In addition, the Force will recoup the revenue from the sale of the Police station building and land to the rear.

Talks have already been held with Camelford Town Council regarding the move.

Announcing the move, Superintendent Julie Whitmarsh commented: "I would like to stress that this isn't the case of the police reducing our service to the people of Camelford, but is purely a logistical move.

"The policing team's staffing  levels will remain the same and our response teams will be available just as before.

"I'm sure that members of the public will understand the pressures we are under in the present climate to save money and we have been forced to make tough decisions to make sure that front line services are not affected."

She added: "In addition to the Neighbourhood Team, the highly-successful local Neighbourhood Watch office will also make the move and we hope to forge closer relationships with the police cadets who are already based at the school.

"We are very grateful to the school for their help and also to the town council for their support."

The Station Enquiry Office at Camelford was closed in May as part of a Forcewide review which showed that almost 90 per cent of crime is now reported over the telephone.

The new office will not have an Enquiry Office facility but there are a variety of ways in which the public can contact the police.

These include via online, at public meetings, by calling 999 or the new simplified non-emergency number which is now 101.

Members of the public can also arrange to meet with an officer face-to-face at a time and date that is convenient.

Residents can also find out about individual members of the team, what they are doing to address local issues and where they can meet them next by going to http://neighbourhoodpolicing.devon-cornwall.police.uk">http://neighbourhoodpolicing.devon-cornwall.police.uk.

The move to the new office will take place from December 1.

See the 'Post' for a reaction from the town's mayor.