Changes announced by Essex Police today could see the closure of up to 15 police stations, a cut of 190 PCSOs and new headquarters.

Essex Police is anticipating cuts of around £63 million by 2019-20, on an annual budget of around £262 million.

Around 83 per cent of the budget is spent on the salaries of police officers, PCSOs and police staff.

With £1 million paying for 20 police constables for a year, the financial challenges inevitably mean Essex Police’s workforce will become significantly smaller over the next few years.

There are currently 25 police stations with front counters in Essex but plans are in place to reduce this number to just ten by April next year.

Chelmsford Police Station will stay open to the public between 9am and 5pm.

On average four people per hour visit the station every day with 3,980 people visiting over two separate months.

However, South Woodham Ferrers police station will be shut down and sold.

Research at the station carried out over two separate months has shown that out of the 386 people who visited the station, only three of those visited to report a crime.

Moulsham Lodge station, in Chelmsford, which was closed in November 2011, will be sold.

It is proposed that the new Community Policing Team for Chelmsford and Maldon would be made up of: one local policing and partnership inspector, two sergeants, 10 constables, one dedicated youth officer and seven PCSOs.

• The team will prioritise protecting people from harm; preventing and reducing crime; bringing criminals to justice; engaging with the public; and ensuring the public are satisfied with the service they receive.

• They will not deal with low level non-policing matters such as long-term neighbourhood disputes, low level anti-social behaviour and parking issues, but will work alongside partners, for example the local authority and Community Safety Partnership, who will address these matters.

• Up to 24 of the 31 PCSOS jobs may be removed with affected staff retained as PCSOs, redeployed elsewhere in the force or made redundant. 

There are also proposals to create a new 'fit for purpose' Essex Police Headquarters. 

The current HQ in Springfield is made up of various buildings, some up to 100 years old, and has been deemed 'highly inefficient' costing £2.5million more each year than necessary. 

A statement from Essex Police said: "Selling the Springfield site and unlocking its value provides the opportunity for building a new modern fit for purpose Essex Police Headquarters.

"Negotiations for a new site are at an advanced stage, and details will be announced shortly."