THE Police Service of Northern Ireland is set to close the enquiry office at Lisnaskea Police Station.

The closure of the local office was announced alongside 11 other station enquiry offices across Northern Ireland. 

The reasoning for the closure is down to  "current financial and resource pressures". 

However, Chief Constable for Local Policing, Bobby Singleton, emphasised that "these are not station closures", and added that "police officers and staff will continue to serve the community from these locations".

The timescale for these closures is not yet clear, but it is understood they will likely close within the next three months.

The Impartial Reporter hit the busy streets of Lisnaksea and spoke to local people about their reaction to the news.

Local resident Terry McConnell said the loss of the enquiry office is "another service taken from the town".

"There are no forward steps, it all seems to be retrograde steps," he said. "You wonder where it will end.

"We have no banks now, even though we once had three. The roads are also in a dreadful state, and it's increasingly harder to get a dentist or doctor."

Meanwhile, local businessman Wesley Warrington said the decision is a "backwards step".

"From the point of view of the security in the town, it's a big step backwards," he said.

"A lot of people rely on the office to call in and report any issues they may have.

"There will be a feeling that people in Lisnaskea will no longer know where to go to do this."

Resident, Padraig Murphy, described the move from the PSNI as a "disgrace".

"It's a disgrace to see it closing," he said. "I am a firm believer that it's hard to beat 'feet on the street' as far as the police are concerned. It is going to be a free ground for hooligans.

"We need the police station open, and I think people should demand that it's open.

"We need a more visible police presence not only here, but in every town and village."

Lisnaskea businessman, Meryn Gregg, echoed a similar opinion. "It's another service that's no longer available to the local community," he said.

"This is coming hot off the heels of the bank having closed. Cuts to further services aren't something we want to see.

"People now don't have the opportunity to go and report crimes that they are aware of, and this is  a massive shame."