"There needs to be nothing short of a revolution in the design of police buildings," said the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, which also advocated opening police kennels and stables to the public.

While the report said the old-fashioned town center police station with its blue lamp was a "world-recognized icon," it also called for bulldozing stations erected in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, The Times of London reported.

The report said stations should provide space for public meetings and offer computer terminals in the reception area to give visitors access to public services.

The institute acknowledged anti-terror and safety measures tended to affect accessibility, but made no suggestions on how to achieve security with its proposed "open-plan" designs.