TWENTY cells at Basildon police station will be out of bounds for three months as bosses trial costcutting proposals to close custody for good.

Essex Police believes closing the cells, which are used to hold people who have been arrested or for their own safety, will help save money as the force struggles to balance its budget.

Instead detainees are being transferred to Southend police station, where there are 30 cells - 15 miles away.

The details of the closure have been revealed in the agenda for Basildon’s full council meeting on Thursday.

In a motion tabled by Labour councillor Kayte Block, who represents Vange ward, she raised concerns that police officers from outside the area who have no local knowledge will be interviewing suspects.

She also argued that law firms could be in breach of their contract for failing to attend a police station within 45 minutes of a detainee being arrested.

Her Labour colleague Andrew Buxton, who represents St Martins ward, said: “It is disgraceful.

“What next - are they going to close the police station?

“It is going to waste police officers’ time having to drive the detainees to Southend with the A127 and A130 often getting snarled up, when they should be out.”

An Essex Police spokesman said the police station will remain open.

He added: “Essex Police has taken the decision to close Basildon Custody for a three month trial period. The decision is part of the ongoing programme to modernise and rationalise the police estate.

“As part of this a review of our custody facilities is underway.

“Over recent years, the number of people we arrest has fallen, in Essex and across the country.

“This is the result of a number factors of including recent legislative changes and the increasing use of alternative resolutions to arrest, such as fixed penalty notices, cautions and community resolutions where appropriate.

“Our budget, resourcing levels and demand continue to be a challenge.

“By reducing our estate, including custody, we will have more money to reinvest in supporting our officers to stay visible in community for longer, build our specialist capabilities and keep the people of Essex safe.

“Prisoners will be taken to the newly refurbished custody suite at Southend which has larger capacity, better facilities for all prisoners, including the disabled and vulnerable, as well as their advocates and crucially more modern and efficient technology for our custody staff.

“We have no plans to close Basildon police station and we are committed to maintaining a policing presence in the borough.”