New-look community police station opens its doors in Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield's revamped police station has thrown open its doors to the public.
Existing police buildings on the Anchorage Road side of the site, have now been redeveloped with the addition of a former small business property next door for neighbourhood teams, emergency response officers, local crime investigators, offender management and other policing teams.
Among the key developments was the creation of a public contact office where people can talk to us if they prefer face to face over telephone and online options.
Cash from the sale of the old site – which will also pay for the new station - will be reinvested into policing, safeguarding officer numbers and services at a time when budgets are under continued pressure locally and nationally. The sale of our surplus buildings on the Lichfield Road side of the site provides good value for the public purse and local people.
The old station cost over of £500,000 each year to run, excluding annual maintenance costs and essential upgrades such as those needed to its 66-year-old heating system as well as critical safety and security systems.
The decision to close the former station on Lichfield Road was made in March 2018 following careful scrutiny at a public meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “I’m pleased with the re-development which was delivered on time and to a tight budget, using local businesses employing local people.
“The old station was largely vacant due the way we work in the 21st century and my commitment to keep officers out of the streets serving their communities. The building was also very expensive to run.
“Instead, we made use of the land and buildings we already had, and thanks to the purchase of an adjoining property, we’ve been able to create good, modern facilities for our officers and a public contact office.
“There’s no doubt that the redeveloped footprint is smaller than the old facility but there is no reduction in officer numbers serving the town. It is people with the right skills and equipment which keep people safe, not bricks and expensive empty rooms which cost a fortune to heat and maintain.”
The new building benefits from new CCTV, solar panels, electric vehicle charging and LED lights to reduce energy costs. Some officers had already moved into the new space ahead of the official opening.
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “The new police station, is more cost-effective, efficient and sustainable, it provides better value for money for the taxpayer and it also ensures, that officers are better equipped to serve the community."
Birmingham's Ch Supt Tom Joyce added: “The new station keeps my officers in the heart of the communities they serve. They are laser-focused on working with partners to prevent and detect crime, to keep people safe."
