8:50am Wednesday 1st September 2010
POLICE stations could become one-stop shops by merging with other public services.
The cost-cutting initative is being trialled in Tiptree where police will move in to the village fire station.
If the three-month pilot works, it could be rolled out across Essex in an effort to save millions of pounds, generated by selling police stations.
Robert Chambers, chairman of Essex Police Authority, said: “The intention is to get up and running around the country, with the fire service, police, county council, district councils and health authorities.”
The fire station at Tiptree will not be open to the public, but officers will have a desk at Tiptree Library every Saturday between 11am and 1pm. The plans form part of the Policing in the 21st Century consultation, which can be viewed online.
Tory Stephen Metcalfe, who represents south Basildon and East Thurrock, said: “On the face of it it sounds very interesting with regards to cutting costs. All our public services face extroadinary challenges in the coming months so anything we can do to cut costs without reducing the services we offer to the public has to be looked at. I would be interested in the results when they come out.”
To have your say as part of the consultation, which closes on September 20, go to http://consultations.homeoffice.gov.uk Mr Chambers has also revealed he may stand as the county’s first police commissioner. Police authorities could be replaced with elected commissioners as part of Government plans to overhaul policing.
Mr Chambers had dismissed the idea of commissioners as “cranky”, but he said: “I have quite a lot of experience to bring to the job. I hope I have the right attitude for the job – I would be a servant of the public.”
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