NORTH Cornwall’s MP has issued a call for Launceston’s police station to be reopened to the public.

Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, has today renewed calls for the reopening of the front desk at Launceston Police Station, following his letter to Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez, and subsequently leading a debate in Parliament on rural crime.

During a debate on Thursday, February 27, Mr Maguire argued that rural communities like those in North Cornwall need far greater investment in policing, highlighting that many crimes go unreported because of the lack of accessible police stations. He stressed that reopening Launceston’s front desk would be a step towards rebuilding public confidence in policing and ensuring rural crimes are properly addressed.

It comes after a number of police stations and enquiry desks have been reopened over the last few years. Back in 2023, Bude and Stratton saw its police enquiry desk reopened by the Police and Crime Commissioner. The station was closed to public access for many years but was brought back by Ms Hernandez as part of ongoing works to reopen a number of enquiry desks across Devon and Cornwall.

More recently, the commissioner has celebrated as Liskeard, along with Ivybridge and Tavistock saw their enquiry offices opened in February.

Following the news, Ms Hernandez said: “I’m delighted to open three more police stations to the public,” said Commissioner Hernandez. “These front desks are an invaluable asset to communities, and I encourage the residents of Liskeard to make use of them to report crime, get advice or find out information about getting help as a victim of crime for friends and family. They also offer a place of safety to people of all ages who feel are at risk or frightened.”

However, now North Cornwall’s MP is calling for more to be done to protect rural communities from crime.

Mr Maguire has written to Ms Hernandez seeking clarity on plans to restore front desk services at the station. In his letter, he noted that the recent reopening of public-facing police services in Bude was warmly welcomed by the local community and called for Launceston to be prioritised for similar action.

Commenting on the matter, Mr Maguire said: "Launceston is a growing town and a key gateway to Cornwall. We need a fully functioning police station that residents can access easily to report crimes and seek support.

“Right now, two thirds of crimes are going unreported - because people simply don’t know where to turn, and don’t have the trust or confidence that their reports will be taken seriously.

"I am urging the Police and Crime Commissioner to act now to reopen Launceston Police Station’s front desk, and ensure that my constituents have the same level of service as other towns in the region. It comes down to a matter of public safety, and I will continue pushing for real action to make our communities safer."