Falmouth police station front desk is due to reopen this year, in plans outlined by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The commissioner, Alison Hernandez, is aiming to reopen Police Enquiry Offices in Tiverton, Penzance, Newton Abbot and Falmouth by December. Falmouth and Penzance both had their front desks closed in October 2014.

It was approved by Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer and the PCC at a meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Police resources board, also allowing for the front desk in the popular tourist destination of Newquay, which was reopened in 2020 as a temporary measure, to remain open permanently.

These offices will be staffed by Police Enquiry Officers from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 3pm, while the existing nine operated by the force will operate extended opening hours of 8am to 6pm on the same days.

Officers staffing the offices will be able to support the 101 contact centre too when not dealing with people person.

It is estimated that the cost of the additional openings will be about £186,000 in 2022/23, with the Commissioner and force are exploring opportunities to reopen more front desks in the following financial years.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said:

"Police stations offer a place of refuge for victims and a point of contact between the police and the public they serve. They are hugely reassuring for many people, enabling crimes to be reported, victims to be protected and information to flow freely between the force and the public it serves.

"I have been very vocal about the public's desire to see some of these front offices reopened, and the importance of establishing greater communication and understanding between the force and residents, so am really pleased to see progress on this landmark project – it shows that our police stand side by side with our communities in tackling crime.

"We know that when people have contact with police officers their confidence in the force increases. With police officer numbers set to reach record levels in Devon and Cornwall Police thanks to investment by our communities it is right that we maximise opportunities for the public to talk to officers and staff directly.

"We will not stop there. I believe the force should be more visible so am engaged in talks to work out where more enquiry offices might be opened to best serve the public."

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer QPM added:

"I warmly welcome the investment by the PCC and the public within Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as well as the uplift in police numbers provided by Government. This provides an opportunity to open some police stations across the force area. There is a clear business case and merit for these new opportunities which the force will continue to monitor in discussion with the Commissioner, recognising that in a digital age and across such a wide geography, there must be a blended means of public access to the force and that the force must seek to be present in the digital space alongside the physical space."

Anyone interested in applying for the role of Police Enquiry Officer in the locations should check the Devon and Cornwall Police vacancies site for opportunities, where they will be advertised in due course.