Supermarkets such as Tesco are to host mobile police stations as the police attempt to cut costs.

Victims of crime will be encouraged to visit ‘shared locations’ at supermarkets as well as libraries and community centres as forces look to shut 264 public counters over the next three years, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper said forces across Kent, Surrey, Essex, Cumbria and Gwent have already begun using mobile police stations at supermarket car parks.

Some 137 mobile police stations will be set up. The newspaper did not give a timeframe.