Only five Gwent stations left open to public in budget cuts

17 police stations in South East Wales will no longer be open to the public from July, as part of budget cutbacks at Gwent Police. Only five stations will offer front counter services, with only Newport Central open 24 hours a day. The remainder will still be police bases.

• Newport Central will continue to open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Abergavenny, Ebbw Vale, Cwmbran and Blackwood will continue to be open 8am - 8pm every day of the week
• Abertillery, Brynmawr, Tredegar, Caerphilly, Bargoed, Rhymney, Ystrad Mynach, Bedwas, Risca, Chepstow, Monmouth, Caldicot, Alway, Pill, Maindee, Bettws and Pontypool will not be open to public

19 jobs will also be cut, as Gwent Police aim to make £34 million in savings by 2015. The force says these are station enquiry officer posts, and that the proposals outlined on Tuesday will save £500,000 in total.

We want to reassure the public that our 24/7 presence will remain as strong as ever, giving rapid response to their calls for help and advice. While officers will still be visible in the community, society has changed the way it communities, with increased use of digital channels and we are finding innovative ways of meeting these needs.

Gwent Police say they will increase the amount of contact information they provide at each station, online and in community centres across the region.