THE new Essex Police headquarters could be based in Kelvedon.

Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst is putting together his plan to tackle crime in Essex.

He wants to save money to pay for more officers on the street.

The force began its search more than a year ago after deciding to close the Chelmsford HQ and sell it off for housing.

The fire headquarters in Kelvedon, off the A12, was considered and rejected. However Mr Hirst wants to look again at “the potential for a shared police and fire headquarters at Kelvedon”.

It is one of a number of ways he wants to join the two emergency services.

His crime plan priorities are:

  • Cracking down on anti-social behaviour
  • Being tough on domestic violence
  • Reversing the trend in serious violent crime
  • Tackling gangs and organised crime
  • Making police more local, visible and accessible.

He said: “To deliver these priorities, I will work closely with chief officers to drive the modernisation of the force.

“We must ensure our police have good technology to enable them to complete tasks whilst out in our communities.

“We will also be aiming to double the size of the Special Constabulary.

However money remains tight. “The biggest single challenge is the financial envelope within which we work,” he said.

“I hope to develop a plan for closer collaboration between Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service by this autumn, enabling our emergency services to work closely together."

Mr Hirst, in his first official statement to the public, also claimed he has a “real democratic mandate” after voter turnout doubled from the first police and crime commissioner.

However turnout was still only 26 per cent, was much lower in areas where there were no local Government elections and Mr Hirst achieved less than ten per cent of the votes available – which was still considerably more than anyone else.