Eyre and Western Local Service Area Inspector Scott Denny renewed this call after concerns were raised by the Whyalla Residents and Ratepayers Association Inc.

He also clarified assumptions of possible cost cutting at the Whyalla Police Station.

"We have a sufficient number of officers to provide a high level of policing to the community ," Inspector Denny said.

" Recently there have been some concerns raised relating to telephone calls made to the Whyalla Police Station.

"The entire Eyre and Western Local Service Area provides a 24 hour, seven day per week telephone and response service.

"There may be occasions where telephones for Whyalla Police are answered by officers at Port Lincoln, which is the headquarters for the Eyre and Western Local Service Area.

"However this in no way diminishes the ability of police to respond to the needs of the public.

"We are again urging the public to use the 131444 telephone number for police attendance or 000 in a life threatening emergency.

"All other calls for general advice and general enquiries can be made to the Whyalla Police Station.

"Requests for police attendance through the 131 444 telephone number are dispatched to patrols from Police Communications Branch in Adelaide.

"This way patrols are monitored closely and can be dispatched in order of priority.

"We are providing a better service to the community by being able to deploy more police on the road to police the community and detect and reduce crime"

Inspector Denny said the operating hours of the Whyalla Police Station remain at 8am to 6pm , seven days per week for general business and a 24 hour, seven day per week patrol response.

He said the operating hours have been like this for some time now and was nothing new.

Association chairman Ted Lavender said the police station's front door was locked between 6pm to 8am and if someone wished to personally contact the police they had to ring the front door bell for a response.

"It is not known how many police officers man the station for this period of time," Mr Lavender said.

"I wonder if there has been a cost cutting exercise by the government to make up for over spending.

"If this is so could it be that police numbers have been reduced on back shifts?"

Mr Lavender wrote to the Whyalla News enquiring about issues raised by the letter writer.

He was concerned about the delay in response time.