Internet forcing

goodValue

Whilst working at a drop-in centre, we had a number of people who visited because they had been turned away at their local police station.
They had been told that they could not put in a theft report at the station, they could only do it online.
Is this legal, and can other public organisations (local government, hospitals etc) force you to deal with them online?

discat11

Given the number of people who don't have internet access (let alone those who are not au fait with it in any case even if they have access) it seems bizarre to me and I suspect this cannot be official policy.

nomoneytoday

Sounds to me as though someone has misunderstood the process limitations, rather than the policy?

tomtontom

Some police stations no longer have proper front desks due to the cuts. Could this be the issue? My closest station is open 9-5 if you have an appointment but if not you're pointed to a phone to call the contact centre. Have they tried calling the non emergency number?