Changes to regional police station front counter opening hours

Standardised opening hours of 9am to 5pm during weekdays (except on public holidays) and reduced opening hours of 9am to 3.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays for those stations that currently have weekend opening hours will commence from Monday 23 December 2024.

These changes mean SAPOL can serve the local community more effectively and efficiently by proactively patrolling the regions and responding to calls for assistance, rather than staffing stations during times with minimal public attendance.

Across the seven State Operations Service (SOS) Local Service Areas, 14 police stations will experience change, including Nuriootpa, Gawler, Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Port Augusta, Mount Barker, Berri, Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Millicent, and Port Pirie.

Stations experiencing no change include Roxby Downs, Victor Harbor, Bordertown, and Kadina, while stations increasing opening hours include Coober Pedy and Millicent.

Berri, Port Pirie and Mount Gambier police stations will move from being open 24/7 to the standardised hours. Emergency Help Units (call buttons) connecting to 000 have been installed at these locations to assist the public in emergency situations when the station is closed.

State Operations Service, Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said these changes would allow regional police officers to return to frontline duties.

“SAPOL’s priority is to provide a highly visible police presence on our streets and to place police officers where they are needed most. Police stations are often staffed by taking officers from other operational or frontline positions, including patrols,” he said.

“Standardising hours across the 14 stations will not affect how the police presence or response in these towns will continue to be provided.

“The primary method of contact from the public to South Australia Police is by phone – not front counter attendance. People are familiar with calling Triple Zero or 131 444, and a large portion of the community now have mobile phones always with them.

“In contrast to what many local residents believe, police officers who work the front counter in stations do not have the ability to respond to crime.”

Face-to-face services will continue to be offered during standardised hours – Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (except on public holidays) and, for stations open on weekends, 9am to 3.30pm.

SAPOL has a range of online services available to the public. For more information visit: www.police.sa.gov.au