POLICE claim York residents will notice no real difference when major changes to police inquiry office opening hours start later this year.

But Selby Police Station will be open to the public for fewer hours and two police offices elsewhere in the county will close their front counters completely.

The changes are part of North Yorkshire Police’s response to the spending cuts. Full details of the changes will be announced in June.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said: “Our review of front counter services showed that some of the resources committed to running these facilities were not providing value for money in their current form.

“In this economic climate when we have to prioritise resources according to demand, we simply cannot afford to be operating front counters where hardly any members of the public made use of them, or during the quieter periods of the day.”

Opening hours will remain the same at Fulford Road Police Station in York, which is open 24 hours a day, Pickering Police Station and Scarborough Police Station. Knaresborough Police Station will open for longer hours.

Selby, Tadcaster, Malton, Harrogate, Filey, Thirsk, Eastfield and Harrogate Police Stations, among others, will have reduced front office opening hours, The public inquiry offices at Acomb, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Easingwold, Eggborough and New Earswick, were not included in the review as they are manned by volunteers, but will be part of a later review.

The police authority is currently consulting with staff over possible job losses.