Majority of GMP police stations operating ‘reduced hours’ across GM

Several police stations across Greater Manchester have been operating at reduced hours for more than a year, an FOI has revealed.

GMP stations in six out of ten boroughs have ‘temporarily’ cut down their front desk hours.

In Stockport, ‘temporary’ hours have been in force in some stations for more than two years, while Manchester and Oldham have each had their times slashed for around 18 months.

Councillors have slammed the limited opening hours as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘a real worry’.

Wigan and Bolton were both closed for the equivalent of around six months during 2025, while Bury police station introduced reduced hours in November. It is understood the reduced hours are down to a mixture of hard-to-fill vacancies and sick leave. 

Cllr Dan Oliver, Stockport’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection, said: “The ongoing staffing issues in Stockport are a real worry. The longer they go on, the more we have concerns over the strain on staff, and whether there are suitable service levels being provided in our community. 

“We’re working hard with GMP to support them in resolving this and our understanding is that vacancies are in the process of being filled as we speak.

“Given the current situation, we will be keeping a keen eye on this as it develops, not only in the  short term for residents’ best interests, but to ensure that the Neighbourhood Policing Model that has been advocated by the Government is delivered here in Stockport.”

Oldham councillor Sam Al-Hamdani described the situation as ‘a reduction in services by stealth’. The Saddleworth and Lees councillor claimed he had twice tried to attend the police station in Oldham town centre to ‘hand in an axe found during a litter pick’. 

But both times, the station was not open at times listed on the GMP website – which has since been altered. The station now closes to the public at 4pm. 

Al-Hamdani has argued the hours made it difficult for ‘anyone who works a 9-5 or lives somewhere else in the borough to attend the police station without having to take time off work’.

“Further, it seems completely unreasonable that something that has been in place for over a year is regarded as being temporary,” he added. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that a number of councillors from different boroughs are lobbying the GMCA’s deputy mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Kate Green to address the issue. 

A GMP spokesperson said: “Where a front counter is operating at reduced hours, we remain fully contactable through other methods, including direct to our Neighbourhood Teams using the simple online tool found on each Neighbourhood Policing Team page on our website, with a response received in 72 hours.

“Our neighbourhood teams are out in communities, engaging with the public and dealing with the issues of the greatest concern to the public.
“If anyone needs to speak to an officer, please feel free to speak to them in person. In an emergency, you should always call 999.”