Gwent Police is to go ahead with a number of changes to how people access its services following the force authority AGM.

An 'Ask the Public' roadshow run by the force, on behalf of the Police Authority, in May and early June this year, showed that three quarters (77 per cent) of people contact the police in Gwent by telephone.

The consultation was arranged following the Chief Constable's decision to reduce front counter service, but not close police stations, throughout Gwent.

The decision, which will save half a million pounds, has been forced by Home Office cuts which mean Gwent police has to save £34 million by 2015. More than half those savings have already been made.

People were asked which means of direct contact they would prefer in future. The three most popular ways of contacting the police, apart from by telephone and visiting a station, were at a mobile police station, ringing an officer direct via mobile telephone and visiting a shared community location.

Two new mobile police stations are to be purchased, meaning each of Gwent's five local authority areas will have a dedicated resource by November 2012. Gwent police runs three mobile police stations at the moment.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Prince said: "We have listened very carefully to what the public told us.

"More than 1,200 surveys were completed at 29 events throughout Gwent. They show that people understand our financial situation.

"Once we explain that the same number of officers and community support staff will be working at each of the 17 affected locations in future, and that we are not closing services, but opening up more choices for contact, we received community support for the move."

It means that front counter service at the 17 locations will gradually cease, while mobile stations will be strictly timetabled and police surgeries at Monmouth, Chepstow, Abertillery, Alway, Bargoed, Bedwas, Bettws, Brynmawr, Caerphilly, Caldicot, Maindee, Pill, Pontypool, Rhymney, Risca, Tredegar and Ystrad Mynach will increase.

Front counter service will continue to be available at Abergavenny, Blackwood, Cwmbran and Ebbw Vale, between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week. Newport Central is open 24/7.

Neighbourhood Officers' mobile numbers will be published and the force will press ahead with plans already formulated to share premises.

"This is already happening at Rassau and Llanhilleth in Blaenau Gwent, and at the council-run Information Station in Newport, and we will look at the feasibility of moving officers into premises like council one stop shops in other towns in Monmouthshire and Caerphilly," said Mr Prince.

Cilla Davies, Chair, Gwent Police Authority said: "We are grateful to those who took the time to complete the 'Your Voice Counts' survey.

"We continue to face challenging times financially, and we will need to make more difficult decisions going forward."

Pictured is one of the new mobile police stations.