The reduction in the opening hours of the police center will be reversed

A police counter where suspects were asked to take photos of themselves to prove they were complying with bail conditions was due to return to regular opening hours in mid-November, police said.

A shortage of staff means reception at the police center in Corby is only open two days a week since June.

Local Labor MP Lee Barron said he had held a “constructive” meeting with Northamptonshire Police about the reduced working hours, after previously saying the situation was “a mockery of the justice system”.

Police said that until hours are extended, “there are several alternative ways in which the public can contact police.”

In 2017, city officials moved from a police station to a room in the Corby Cube, a municipal building.

Due to a lack of staff, opening hours were limited to Tuesday and Thursday.

Barron, MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, said a notice included instructions for “bail signers” – suspects who are granted bail on the condition that they report regularly to a police station.

They were told to call 101 or “take a photo on your phone to prove you are at reception”.

Barron met with Assistant Police Chief Adam Ward to voice his concerns and said the meeting was “good and constructive.”

He was told that new staff had been hired but were awaiting security clearance.

There is “no criticism of the police, this is about resources,” he added.

Barron said even if previous hours were resumed, a desk on the second floor of a building was “not good enough” and left the “impression that no one was here.”

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: “We expect the reception at Corby Cube to be open again during normal opening hours in mid-November, once the first new member of staff has completed an accelerated vetting process and received the relevant training.”

“There are now several alternative ways the public can contact the police, for example by calling 101, going to another reception desk, speaking to a member of staff on live chat or making a report online.

“The space we have allocated on the second floor is provided by the municipality and is located next to the council desks, which are open to the public.”