The doors of three police stations on the East Coast will close early from today, as the force goes through a number of staffing changes.

Public counters at the Napier, Hastings and Gisborne stations will close tonight and each night at 9pm.

People needing urgent assistance will have to use speaker phones outside the front entrance to call police.

Local staff will then be dispatched if required.

The changes also come as the number of non-sworn police staff is cut in the district, with four losing their jobs.