THE announcement that Dudley's police station is set to close hasn't surprised the town's MP Ian Austin.

A disappointed Mr Austin said he thought it "could happen" after the front desk was closed to the public earlier this year.

West Midlands Police is considering moving out of 28 buildings across the region over the next two years - including stations at Dudley and Netherton.

The move would save the force £8.5million and help in its bid to reduce its overall budget by £130 million by 2020.

Mr Austin said: "We all know savings have to be made, but these closures and the loss of thousands of officers are a direct result of the Government’s decision to hand West Midlands Police disproportionate cuts that are twice as deep as places like Surrey.

“We fought hard when they were closing the front desk to the public earlier this year, presenting a signed by 2,200 local people to Parliament, and taking our case to the policing minister, the chief constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“It would be completely unacceptable for the police not to have officers based in the town and available for local people so I’ll carry on campaigning to have a permanent police base in Dudley."

The closures will be discussed on Tuesday (October 6) when the force will present the proposals to the Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson at a Strategic Police and Crime board meeting.

If the proposals are approved, the force say that “a range of engagement activity will take place to ensure we share the proposals with key groups in our communities before a decision is made”.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “As the cuts continue to bite we are faced with some really tough decisions.

“The Government has consistently continued to disproportionately cut funding in the West Midlands and the challenge is how we maintain the service that the public comes into contact with.

“I will wait to hear the full report from West Midlands Police on this in early October but my view is that we must do all we can to support officer numbers.

“If that can be achieved by reducing the police estate further then that should be given serious consideration.”

Mr Austin is urging anyone who is against the closures to sign his petition "so we can push the Government, Dudley Council and West Midlands Police to find a way of keeping police based in the town".

The petition can be signed here www.ianaustin.co.uk/dudleypolicestation.