The front desk at St Albans Police Station may be closed in a bid to save cash.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has proposed cutting the service, meaning that residents will have to make enquires over the phone or go to Hatfield or Watford police stations.

The proposal will see front desks across the county close, with only custody stations offering the service.

Politicians from across St Albans have hit out against the plan.

Martin Leach, leader of St Albans Labour party, said: "How much money are they actually going to save by doing this?

"When you factor in the amount of public money that has been spent on a commissioner and his aides you start to think that they’ve got the wrong priorities. It just seems odd."

Chris White, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said he will write to Hertfordshire's police and crime commissioner, David Lloyd, to demand a full consultation on the plan.

He said: "There was a plan to get rid of large police stations and get the police closer to residents in shop fronts in various parts of the district.

"The closure of the front desk by contrast is the worst of all possible worlds - the police will become remoter than ever and yet continue to occupy a valuable building in central St Albans which could have been sold off to provide more money for policing."

County councillor Sandy Walkington added: "This feels like another example of our city being diminished.

"Our hospital was downgraded, Oaklands College moved out of the city centre - we need to make a stand before everything is taken away."

St Albans District Council is currently in discussion about working with the police to set up a replacement desk service in its Civic Centre offices.

Leader of the council, Conservative councillor Julian Daly, has backed that idea.

He said: "I think there needs to be a police presence in St Albans.

"This would be a sensible use of public resources. It reduces the administration costs.

"Members of the public do want to go in and report things to the police. I appreciate that a lot more of it is now done over the phone.

"I’m sure that over the years things have changed dramatically for the police but there will still be instances when the public will still want to interact."

However, the force is keen to point out that the stations themselves will not be closing and there will not be a reduction in the number of officers in the city.

The front desk at the Harpenden station was closed in April 2011.

Police and crime commissioner David Lloyd said: "I have been working with the chief constable Andy Bliss on proposed change to the police front counter service.

"Though this is in some ways an operational decision it is an issue in which I take a particular interest as how the public engage with the police being a key concern in my police and crime plan.

"Mr Bliss has reassured me that this move is a prudent one and that measures are in place to ensure that it can be done without damaging the accessibility of his officers".