Hawke's Bay Police Area Commander Inspector Tania Kura has moved to quell fears in the Ahuriri community that the Bridge St station is set to shut up shop.
"The Ahuriri Police Station will not be closing," she said, adding that while Ahuriri Community Senior Constable Bruce Miller would still have a presence in the seaside suburb, it would not be his primary base.
Mr Miller is now based at the Napier station.
"He will still be expected to attend the Ahuriri Station," Ms Kura said. "His community constable role has always included the Napier central business district and increasing needs from this area are one of the many reasons behind this move."
Seeing the currently closed doors of what had previously been a more visible community station has not gone down well with many locals.
Ian Price said the suburb had become relatively free from crime due to what he called the diligence and hard work of its community constable.
"I am certain that the elderly residents, of whom a great number reside in Ahuriri, would like to have the reassurance that a police officer is close by and looking after their interests."
He said residents should have been contacted by police to be advised of what was happening before what appeared to be the total closure of the station (it has not been occupied for about a week).
Ms Kura said when circumstances warranted it Mr Miller would work in Ahuriri, and the office was still there for his use.
She said a driving part of the current police "Prevention First" model was a higher public visibility from police, in areas where and when demand dictated.
It was an approach that required what she called a reconsideration of police practice to ensure the effective use of resources.
Other community constables would also work in the central city area when the situation required it, but would still spend time in their own areas.