CONCERNED residents fear crime and antisocial behaviour could rise in Hessle the longer the town is without a police base.
More than 700 people have signed a petition opposing the closure of the Peeler House Police Station.
They are calling for Humberside Police and East Riding Council to work together to maintain a police base in Hessle. It comes after a deal to share a new council customer service centre in Hessle collapsed in June.
With Peeler House now up for sale, Hessle Town councillors are calling for a resolution as soon as possible to find a new home.
Councillor David Nolan said: "We want a proper police presence in Hessle and need East Riding Council and the police to reinstate a police station – something we have had for decades in the town.
"Residents need that reassurance.
"There is a concern among residents that a lack of police will lead to more burglaries and antisocial behaviour."
Hessle Police moved to Kirk Ella station a few months ago.
Councillor Claire Thomas said: "Already, more than 700 residents have said they want to maintain a local police base. It's worrying for residents that the police aren't based in Hessle.
"The police and council need to sit down and sort it out."
East Riding Council leader Councillor Stephen Parnaby said the deal to move the police to the new council customer service centre in Hessle fell through after disagreements over whether council staff would be required to deal with police- related enquiries from members of the public.
A council spokesman said: "The police were originally offered accommodation in the Hessle Centre on the basis of them using it as back office accommodation for the neighbourhood policing team.
"The subsequent proposal by the police commissioner to change the basis of the original proposal resulted in the council offering to let them move back into Peeler House.
"The police decided not to go with either of these proposals.
"As a consequence of the police rejecting the original proposals for accommodation within the Hessle Centre, the council has now made arrangements to utilise the accommodation for other staff with an overall saving on the public purse.
"In respect of Peeler House, the council has now put the building on the market for sale. This will again achieve a further saving to the public purse.
"The police can, of course, still retain a physical presence in Hessle, but this will have to be achieved by finding alternative accommodation."
Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove said he was "extremely disappointed" by the situation.
Speaking in June, he claimed a decision had been signed in February to proceed with the relocation.
He said: "We had made it clear to the council there would be a minimal burden on their front counter staff, as the former police station only received about three visitors a day and local people would have much better access to their local police in a more convenient location.
"Officers and staff in Hessle had already begun moving their possessions into the new building when the U-turn decisions came from the council, which is why I am extremely disappointed they chose to back out at the last minute."
An East Riding Council spokesman said: "The reality is that the police commissioner wished to save money by transferring police duties, which the police are paid to do, without the agreement of the council, which has its own budgetary pressures and limited staff resources."
