Bobbies' homes all but gone

Police have raised millions of pounds by selling off hundreds of properties which were used to house officers in years gone by, it has emerged today.

The homes are being put on the market, being bought by officers or converted into offices for police work.

Figures which were released today show that the number of police houses has dropped from 1,500 when West Midlands Police was formed during 1974 to just 97 now.

In years gone by, new recruits were given rent and housing allowances.

Officers who had come to the force from other parts of the country, or those who were married or who had children were also offered homes.

They were usually given to officers moving into the area, officers joining from the armed forces who needed accommodation quickly or police officers with families.

The force off-loaded 22 properties in the last financial year, at an average price of £199,581, generating £4.39 million.

And between April 2000 and April 2006, the sales generated £12.13 million.

Police chiefs "recycle" the money from the property sales to fund new projects.

In a report, which is due before police authority members on Thursday, Ch Con Paul Scott-Lee said that 23 of the remaining police houses were being used as bases for day-to-day police work.

And four were void or empty, while eight were seen as development opportunities. The rest were lived in, states the report.

Mr Scott-Lee said: "Occupants of police houses that are designated as development opportunities have been advised.

"And they are being given the opportunity to relocate. In these cases, development is linked with supporting officers' welfare."