POLITICIANS and Barrhead residents have taken a unanimous swipe at the closing hours of Barrhead’s public police desk.

New hours of operation mean that the desk will be closed when people say they people are feeling most vulnerable — in the middle of the night.

This comes as Police Scotland makes massive cost-saving measures across the board which have seen more than 60 public counters have their opening hours reduced.

Labour MP Jim Murphy, Barrhead’s elected minister, said: “This decision will be a real worry for a lot of local people.

“It’s crucial that the police are local and highly visible and it’s not clear that this change to Giffnock and Barrhead police stations will reassure local families.

“There will be worries that the downgrading of the police station will increase the risk of crime.” The Barrhead desk on Bank Street in the centre of town is being downgraded from a 24-hour public desk to a desk that is only open from 8am until 6pm.

Residents have contacted the Barrhead News to express their concern that this will mean less protection, especially for older residents who often do not have access to technology when it comes to reporting a crime or seeking advice from officers in the know. Margaret Innes, 44, of Commercial Road, Dunterlie, said: “It worries me when it comes to older people like my wee mum, if she loses something or if she’s mugged leaving the pub or after 6pm or something like that then what is she going to do?

“Obviously that’s an extreme example, but she can’t call anyone, she doesn’t have a mobile phone and she can’t go to her local cop shop because it will be shut.

“I can see their reasoning, but it doesn’t make much sense to me.” Pensioner Emily Hewlittson, of Levern Crescent said: “I don’t even know who my community policeman is any more, we used to know all of them on a first name basis and you could often go straight to them rather than calling 999.

“But things are so different now, it’s going to feel like there is no-one here in the town with us unless something has already gone wrong.” A police spokesman told the Barrhead News that footfall at the Bank Street police station was minimal and they could go nights on end with no one using the front public desk.

It was also claimed that the closure of the desk at night would allow uniformed officers to actually be out on the beat, rather than stuck behind a desk.

The spokesman said: “We have listened to all the views put forward and made changes to reflect this but an effective, modern policing service must evolve to reflect the communities we serve.

“These changes allow us to ensure more of the right people with the right skills are available at the right time and in the right places to serve communities in a manner that reflects the way people now live their lives.” Police will still be present in the station 24 hours a day as it is still a primary base of operations for the area.