Four police stations could be closed to the public and opening hours at 13 others cut under Leicestershire Police's latest effort to slash its spending.
Leicestershire Police today released further details of a cost saving plan which was first reported by the Leicester Mercury earlier this month.
The force says it is considering closing public inquiry desks at four stations – Belgrave, Lutterworth, Syston and Blaby, which is based in the former Braunstone police station.
Opening hours at its remaining 13 stations could be reduced.
Members of the public visit the inquiry desks for a range of reasons such as to report a crime, answer bail, hand in some found property or to produce their motoring documents.
However, the force said today that fewer people are visiting the stations before because they now contact officers at community meetings, by appointment or via social media.
Some of its smaller stations, a recent survey by the force found, attract visitors at the rate of fewer than one an hour.
It believes the proposals could save up to £500,000 a year.
Some major stations are open to 9pm or 10pm, including weekends, while most of the smaller stations are open until 6pm Monday to Friday. Its smallest stations, including Lutterworth open between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday.
Councillor Stephen Hampson, town, borough and county councillor for Syston, said he had had no indication closing his local station's inquiry office was in the pipeline.
He said: "Maintaining the front inquiry desk at the police station is of paramount importance to the people of Syston.
"As long as there are police officers inside that station they should be prepared to man the front desk."
Geraldine Robinson, chairman of Harborough District Council and a town councillor in Lutterworth, said: "The police station in Lutterworth is hardly ever open, so I do wonder whether it would be a loss to the public.
"But if people did need to go to a police station the next one would Market Harborough and that is 14 miles away and that is a long way for some people particularly if they don't have their own transport.
"If it is to close to the public is it essential the police officers themselves make sure they are easily accessible."
A source told the Mercury earlier this month: "Front inquiry offices are important and reducing the hours or closing any of them would not be popular with the public."
"There is also a concern that some of the analysis of use of the front inquiry desks was conducted during the Olympic Games, which was a relatively quiet and low crime period for us."
Market Harborough Neighbourhood member Marion Lewis told the Mercury earlier this month that the police proposals were "short-sighted".
Chief Superintendent Chris Haward said today: "We are, like many businesses and organisations, in the unenviable position of having to make financial savings and all areas of our business are under scrutiny.
"We know members of the public like the reassurance of knowing they can walk into a police station.
"But, in reality fewer and fewer people are making use of this service and in the current world of financial constraints we have to be as efficient as possible.
"This review does not look at whether we should close police stations but simply focuses on the front counter service based on current demand and the need to improve efficiency and ensuring tax payers money is spent wisely and effectively."
The force currently has 90 neighbourhood offices in shared locations such as community centres and council buildings across the city and county.
The force has stressed that it is still reviewing the situation and that no changes would be brought in before April next year.
It hopes to avoid compulsory redundancies through voluntary redundancies or redeployment.
Public telephones which connect callers to the force's call handlers at force headquarters are available outside all police stations.
