Responding to a report from Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board chairwoman Sarah Nitis that it was "very rare'' to find the station's front door unlocked during its advertised opening hours, Police Minister Stuart Nash said he had passed Mrs Nitis' concerns on to the commissioner.
"The commissioner has undertaken work with the district to ensure police provide an appropriate response,'' Mr Nash said in a statement.
Mrs Nitis said she had heard from several Mosgiel residents who had tried to contact the station during its advertised business hours of 8.30am to 4.30pm, but had found the door locked or had been redirected to an answerphone when trying to call the station.
The main issue was people not being able to access officers at the station for non-urgent queries, such as firearms inquiries and follow-ups after burglaries, she said.
"The numbers of police at the station need to be increased.
"The community deserves to have the trust and confidence they will be able to speak with local officers when they need to.''
A Dunedin police spokesman said the station had nine full-time staff and was always manned overnight.
Police Association president Chris Cahill said a major issue for community police stations was tighter health and safety requirements in the wake of the Ashburton Work and Income double shooting in 2014, which made it more difficult to deploy unsworn staff on station front counters.
Mr Cahill said the association was ``hopeful'' Mr Nash would deliver on the Labour Party's promise to boost police numbers by 1800 over the next three years.
"He's said the right things.''
