Confirmed - cop shop to be sold off (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Confirmed - cop shop to be sold off

7:40am Friday 29th June 2012 in News

A POLICE house will be sold to generate cash.

The Essex Police building, in Ongar Road, Kelvedon Hatch, was considered earlier this year as the force looks to sell off property and raise funds.

This week the force confirmed the house, which has been closed for several years and was formerly used as a drop-in base for officers and a store, will be one of nine police stations and nine other buildings around the county to be sold.

The police estate in Essex will be reduced in response to a combination of cuts in grant and other unavoidable financial pressures, which have meant Essex Police need to make savings of more than £42million a year by 2014/15.

Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said: “These decisions are driven by the commitment to provide the most efficient and professional policing operation possible for the people of Essex.

“Faced with highly challenging budget cuts, the Essex Police Authority and the force have had to make some very tough decisions.

“Ultimately, we do not believe lighting, heating and maintaining a building which is under-utilised is the best use of Essex taxpayers’ money.

“Neighbourhood policing teams will continue to be based in local areas, holding beat surgeries, attending local meetings and finding solutions to local problems. This will not change.

“What will change is that, on occasions, some neighbourhood policing teams will be based in buildings we share with partners, such as Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.”

Over the past year a review was undertaken to identify which of the force’s 110 buildings were not being used regularly and could possibly be sold.

On Monday, Essex Police Authority’s finance and audit committee approved the release of the 18 buildings for disposal.

It is anticipated the sale of these buildings will generate as much as £5million.