Leicestershire police has been slammed for putting up a Victorian-style blue lamp designed "to remind people that the police take their safety seriously" – outside a station which is closed to the public. The new blue lamps are being installed outside six police stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – to the tune of £250 each.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews, who is behind the plan, said they are intended to make the police more visible in their communities, reassure residents of more isolated areas and connect the police more closely to the communities they serve. He heralded the old-fashioned lights as a "symbol of law, order, justice and sanctuary".

However, it now transpires that one has been installed outside a station that is not actually open to members of the public. The force currently lease an office in the town hall which is used by beat officers and PCSOs to use for administrative duties. The office is listed on the force website but does not have any opening hours or direct telephone number.

Residents of Uppingham, in Rutland, have blasted the move as little more than a gimmick. Dan Marshall, 45, said: "There is a big difference between a local bobby occasionally using an office to do admin and a police station. The issue I have is this lamp, which is lit up at night, gives the false impression that it is a manned police station when it isn't."

Another local said: "What happens when someone genuinely needs help and tries to enter the police station at night and finds it's closed? It's a gimmick, it's no more a police station than my two-year-old's toy police car can chase after criminals."

Others are in favour of the lamp, with some saying they hope it leads to a permanent police station. Retired teacher Susan Taylor, 68, said: "It's a good idea in my view. I grew up in London and it was reassuring to see the blue lamp outside a police station. There's something rather nostalgic about them too."

Another young mum said: "If the blue lamp puts off criminals then it's a good thing. It's like the cardboard cut-outs of cops you see in supermarkets. What we really need is a permanent police station in the town. Drug use and anti-social behaviour has been getting worse in the town, particularly after the pandemic."

PC Rebecca Angel is a beat officer for the town and works out of Oakham Police Station six miles away. She said: "The lamps are great because it shows the public there is another policing access point. We are very grateful that the town hall has leased us an office in the building. At the moment it is not open to the public but I understand there are plans to make it available for people to use via a telephone appointment. The office is equipped to be used to interview people. Myself and PCSO Andy Wylie use the office currently."

A spokesperson for the Police and Crime Commissioner confirmed that many sites receiving the lamps were not "front counter cop shops". She said: "We are in the process of turning these stations into places where people can make appointments to see officers. The opening times of these stations will not change."

Conservative PCC Mr Matthews insisted the lamp roll-out would reassure the public living in more isolated areas. He said: "The blue lamp is an iconic piece of British policing history and symbolises not only law, order and justice, but safety and sanctuary. These values are just important to our communities today and this is just one of the many ways I aim to reconnect residents with the policing values of the past. This symbolic gesture will help to remind people that the police take their safety seriously and are there to provide help when it is needed."

Mr Matthews said the lamps would be attached to police stations which have little or no signage.