THE option to report a crime in person will end in Horwich from February when the town’s police public counter closes.

Police have confirmed they will shut the 10 quietest enquiry desks across the force including Horwich.

A review running since 2015 revealed the Horwich counter has, on average, just one person a day calling in.

The desk will close at Horwich police station in Burnden Way, Horwich, from February 27, leaving the only public counter in the borough at Bolton central police station in Scholey Street, Bolton.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: “We’ve worked extremely closely with the people of Greater Manchester while making these decisions, including a full, month-long public consultation and meetings with key communities.

“We’ve also looked at the current service provision in great detail, analysing what we can do to continue to allocate resources appropriately.

“While counters are being used less and less, we are looking at new ways for people to contact us, including plans for a transformed website that directs people to relevant partner agencies depending on the reason for the visit and a new online chat facility that means people will soon be able to communicate with GMP in real time via the internet.

“In addition, GMP will provide access to an online loss reporting system where members of the public can report any lost property.”

The closure of the public counter at Horwich police station will not affect staff or officer numbers there.

Victims and witnesses will still be able to visit the building for pre-arranged appointments and neighbourhood meetings will continue as normal.

The force said its review found the 10 doomed counters handled fewer than one fifth of all face-to-face enquiries.

Only one in 10 survey respondents said they had recently attended a police station in person, but more than half had visited GMP’s website or contacted the force online.

Horwich and Westhoughton councillors previously criticised the closure proposal and questioned whether a replacement service could be provided in the town centre.

Westhoughton councillor Jack Speight said: “Most of the older generation are not on social media or do not have access to the internet so they would prefer to go in and use the counters and to do that they will now have to travel into Bolton.”