A town council is calling for enhanced signage at their town’s police base.
The call for the signage to be improved at Horsefair House in King Street, Alfreton, comes from Alfreton Town Council.
The police base opened in 2022, giving officers from the Alfreton’s Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) a base in the town centre for the first time in a number of years.
However, Derbyshire Police have confirmed that: “It is not a police station and it does not have an enquiry office for the public.”
A spokesman for Alfreton Town Council said: “The town council has requested enhanced signage at the Police Station on New Street, Alfreton.
“In a response from the police and PCC, it was explained that the facility known as Horsefair House is not a manned inquiry office, there is a phone available where members of the public can contact the police, and the signage is being reviewed.
“The facilities are a base for Officers and are not a public building, they do not accept lost property. There is a note on the front door that details the nearest station property can be taken to.”
Councillor Keith Wood added: “We will continue to request clear signage that assists those, often in distress, who access the facilities at Horsefair House.”
The Spirit of Alfreton contacted Derbyshire Constabulary about the town council’s concerns. In response, a spokesman for the force said: “We are aware of concerns around the signage for the police office based at Horsefair House in Alfreton which may appear misleading to the public.
“This matter has been reviewed and the sign is in the process of being changed.
“The office which is based at Horsefair House is a local base that officers from our local Safer Neighbourhood Policing teams can use to work from.
“It is not a police station and it does not have an enquiry office for the public.”
The spokesman continued: “To reach the police, people can use the yellow telephone which is outside the building, or contact us on the methods listed below.
“The nearest police station to Alfreton with an enquiry office for the public is on Beetwell Street in Chesterfield.
“We have crime reporting tools on our website; people can send us a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page; direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact on X; or call us on 101.
“In an emergency, always dial 999.”

Pictured is the Alfreton Police base in King Street. Photo from Google Maps April 2023.

Read more about when the Alfreton Police base opened in King Street in 2022 here

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