A Bradford councillor has called a public meeting after it emerged that opening hours of public help desks at police stations across the district are being slashed.

Ruth Billheimer (Lab, Eccleshill) claims consultation with the public could have been better.

But Chief Superintendent Angela Williams, divisional commander of Airedale and North Bradford Police, who is to attend the meeting, said there had been no other complaints and a full and proper consultation took place.

Chief Supt Williams said “footfall data” showed Trafalgar House was the only police station in the district to be busy up until midnight. Other stations got only one or two members of the public calling in each day.

She said: “When we asked the public if they wanted a PCSO or a police constable walking around the communities solving problems, or an officer twiddling their thumbs at a help desk, the majority said they would prefer the yellow jacket out in the community.”

A decision was taken by West Yorkshire Police earlier this year to reduce help desk opening hours across the force. It followed consultations with the public last year by West Yorkshire Police Authority, which has since been abolished and replaced by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

In the Bradford district, Trafalgar House in Bradford, and Airedale House at Keighley, will be open from 8am to midnight every day instead of 24/7.

Javelin House at Eccleshill will be open Monday and Friday between 10am and 6pm; Shipley will open Tuesday and Wednesday with the same hours; and Ilkley will open only on Thursday, between 10am and 6pm. All had previously been open five days a week. Lawcroft House at Manningham will be open between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday, instead of 8am to 5pm.

Chief Supt Williams said data about how often the public used the police stations showed that help desks at Shipley, Eccleshill and Ilkley should not open at all. She said she was happy to answer questionsat the meeting.

Coun Billheimer said she was alerted by a constituent about the new hours at Javelin House.

She said: “I am not having a go at the police. But it is important how the police consult and communicate with people, and it doesn’t seem to have happened in this instance.”

The meeting takes place on Tuesdayat 7pm at Eccleshill Working Men’s Club.