THE closure of local police stations has been ‘challenging’, Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner admitted to Launceston Town Councillors last week.

Conservative PCC Alison Hernandez had visited the town council to outline the new Police and Crime Plan for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 2017-2020.

Bude and Launceston’s police front desks closed in 2014. In October 2015, Launceston’s custody centre closed.

Ms Hernandez said: “The closure of police stations has been challenging. Where they have closed, people feel abandoned. [Launceston’s custody centre] is more modern than other custody suites kept open. It’s a better facility than the ones we keep open.”

However, the town’s custody suite is still available to be used. Ms Hernandez added: “What we use Launceston for is if we have to hold any terrorist suspect.”

She also indicated the custody suite could be used when Barnstaple’s is closed for refurbishment.

Ms Hernandez said she is currently carrying out an ‘estates review’, and asked that anyone with views on how to ‘better access policing in Launceston’ get in touch with her office.

She said the ‘headline’ of her new crime plan is ‘safe, resilient and connected communities’.

Public consultation was carried out on the plan last summer. Ms Hernandez said: “We got a real flavour of what things are important to people.”

There were 1,358 responses to this consultation from individuals or organisations.

She added: “We are in challenging times. It’s not getting cheaper, it’s getting dearer.”

The commissioner will provide the Chief Constable with £24-million with the aim of putting more police officer on the streets by 2020. She told the meeting in September there were 2,096, and this would increase to 3,000.

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said: “This council and I think a lot of people within our community work really well with our community officers and PCSOs.

“We are very fortunate for the people that actually work at Launceston Police Station. This council is quite happy to work with the police and achieve whatever goals we can.”