Staffordshire police stations facing closure in cost-cutting overhaul
Police stations in Staffordshire could be closed down under a cost-cutting overhaul led by the force’s boss, who says some are no longer required.
Staffordshire Police Chief Constable Gareth Morgan said plans being looked at include police sharing offices with council workers in a bid to drive down the force’s £7 million-a-year property running costs.
The estate has 22 police stations, including Wombourne, Rugeley, Lichfield, Cannock and Stafford town centre.
The headquarters for the force is based off Weston Road in Stafford. It is looking to claw back £13.7m from its estate in 2018/19.
Express & Star comment: Difference of opinions over police station closures
He said budget cuts and the location of some police bases made up his case for changes to the police’s estate of buildings.
And he suggested there will be more sharing of buildings with other authorities such as councils.
The review will be put to the Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis, who will make a final decision on the case.
Mr Morgan said: “There are no firm plans at the moment, but I have a budget challenge, same as everyone else. I have an awful lot of buildings that I am responsible for. I would rather spend the money on police officers and police staff than maintaining buildings that are often in the wrong place, not necessarily suitable for the public.”
Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: “One of the key objectives for the new chief constable is to make the police force across Staffordshire more efficient, more visible and more accessible to the public.
“Since I was elected, the principal of shared accommodation to reduce costs and to improve the co-operation between different areas in the public sector has proven successful and will continue.
“The detailed proposal by the chief constable will be assessed and in due course I will make a decision on the future of the overall estate. Police officers out and about in communities is a fundamental objective to the future. It is why I have invested significantly in modern technology.”
The force’s estate has 22 police stations, including in Wombourne, Rugeley, Lichfield, Cannock and Stafford town centre.
The entire property estate is valued at around £50m.
It comes just days after West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson also announced a review was being carried out of his force’s estate with the potential of police officers sharing space with fire crews and council workers.
