GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S police and crime commissioner has stressed there are "no plans to close Coleford police station."

Martin Surl has dismissed claims made at Lydney Town Council over the future of policing in the Forest, and said reports that he had gone back on his promise to retain Coleford police station were 'wrong and without foundation'.

And although he admitted his plans for a police and criminal justice hub in the town had been frustrated, he said he was expecting the results soon of an extensive consultation with people in the Forest that would go towards shaping a service the public want and can be even more proud of.

"I can assure people in the Forest of Dean that I am committed to ensuring they have an effective policing service," said Mr Surl.

"It's true I have been exploring plans to buy the Magistrates Court adjacent to Coleford police station because I thought it could be developed as a criminal justice hub that would serve the entire Forest. Unfortunately, discussions with the Ministry of Justice stopped some months ago as we were unable to reach an agreement on a potential purchase. 

"Frustrating as that was, I repeat – as I have many times before – there are no plans to close Coleford police station. I made a commitment to save Coleford police station and I have kept that promise."

Mr Surl confirmed Lydney police station would close as the result of a decision taken by the former police authority before the election of police and crime commissioners, and that the findings of a public consultation on the future of policing in the area were currently being analysed.

"Along with a number of other local police stations, Lydney was closed by the police authority and that debate is now over. However, I am planning to invest in more effective technology which will give officers improved mobile communications that will give them more flexibility and keep them out on patrol for much longer," said Mr Surl.

The commissioner also confirmed that a Tri Force Specialist Operations collaboration agreement between Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police forces was signed in June with the aim of creating a centrally-managed specialist policing unit which is intelligence-led and able to meet demand at any time or place across the three forces. 

Superintendant Tony Godwin, head of Tri Force Specialist Operations said: "The Tri Force Collaboration will deliver a borderless, joined up specialist policing function which is demand focused and intelligence led; it will incorporate roads policing, armed policing and collision investigation as well as police dogs.

"Working across borders reduces duplication across forces and allows us to deliver a flexible service that meets demand at peak times. Officers will be working on local objectives within our three forces and contributing to meeting the needs of the police and crime commissioners' plans and keeping people safe".