A POTENTIALLY controversial reduction to the opening hours at North Walls police station in Winchester has gone ahead with no public opposition.

Since Monday, the station has only been open to callers from 8am to 8pm on Monday to Saturday and until 6pm on Sundays. Previously, the station was open from 8am to midnight or 1am on certain days.

Inspector Chris May said the change announced in December had not been opposed by anyone.

He said: "I have no feedback at all. I was expecting some. I think people have accepted the reasons. I am confident that this is the right thing to do. It will result in a better service for the public."

The closure allows him to put officers on the beat in the evenings, the busiest time of the day.

Insp May said in the past officers had been regularly tied up dealing with inquiries at the counter.

He said a six-week survey of usage of the station between 8pm and midnight showed only one caller an hour.

It is the second time the North Walls station has reduced its opening hours. In 1995 the opening was cut from 24 hours-a-day to 18 hours - from 7am to 1am, but the locked front door does not mean the station is unmanned.

Insp May said: "Police are still available. People just have to pick up the phone and they will be directed to a police officer in the operations room."