BRIDPORT’S police enquiry office is saved from the axe as the force faces swingeing cuts.

However, other ‘front counter’ offices have not been so lucky and those in Dorchester, Shaftesbury, Wareham, Ferndown, Christchurch and Winton are set to close to save money.

Full-time police enquiry offices will also remain in Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Blandford, Gillingham and Sherborne offices will alternate opening two days each per week, with Swanage and Winfrith operating a ‘sign posting’ facility whereby staff help members of the public by directing them to relevant services.

Dorset Police said it will ‘try to avoid compulsory redundancies where possible.’ Ferndown divisional HQ looks set to be sold off as part of the estates review, which was set up to examine where savings in Dorset Police could be made in light of reduced funding.

The force needs to find further savings of £9.5 million by next year.

It was found that front office counters were under-used and rarely dealing with police matters, while more people were instead calling the non-emergency number of 101.

Changes to counter services and the decision to sell Ferndown HQ – which will save £700,000 in running costs – were confirmed at a meeting after a 12 month consultation process. A further £6-8 million will be generated from the sale of the Ferndown site.

Dorchester councillor and vice-chairman of Dorchester Crime Prevention Panel Cllr David Taylor said the closure of the county town office was a ‘sad and huge loss, considering the County Constabulary’s long links with the area.

He said: “We are losing a point of contact.

“However we are seeing more community officers on the beat and engaging with the public which is welcome.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “This decision has been one of the most challenging faced by Dorset Police in recent memory and, needless to say, it is not one that has been taken lightly.

“I think it is really important to remember that this time last year the force announced the proposal to close 12 out of the 15 front office counters, and as a result of my intervention and the public intervention, the year-long consultation took place which leads us to closing six.

“I know that six front office counters are six too many, but we have to meet our cuts somewhere when we are losing 20 per cent of our budget.”

Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: “Dorset Police is the fourth lowest spending force in England and Wales and is faced with a very challenging budgetary situation, so difficult choices have had to be made.

“We know that changes of this nature are emotive, however the force cannot continue to provide the same style of service as in the past while operating with a significantly reduced budget.”