POLICING in Haltwhistle has come under fire once again.

At this week’s Haltwhistle Town Council meeting on Monday, councillors said residents had complained that officers were rarely seen on the street.

Coun. Michael Ridley said: “Have we still got the police here at the fire station?

“People who live next door to it have asked are they still here. I just wondered because people are asking me. Nobody has seen them.”

In December, Coun. Margaret Forrest said that the officers could be moved from Haltwhistle Fire Station and be based in Hexham as soon as January.

In a letter, police said they had no plans to close the Haltwhistle police office, and that it remained available for use by both response officers and the neighbourhood policing team.

Coun. Forrest added: “I’ve spoken to the officers. If he’s needed elsewhere he goes, he can’t guarantee that he will be here.

“I’ve helped the police for a lot of years, and I really think we’re getting a raw deal.”

Councillors agreed to write to Northumbria Police and ask if there was still a police presence in Haltwhistle for the foreseeable future.

Northumbria Police have been contacted for comment.