BREAKING
Town police station faces the axe

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DROITWICH's Police Station is set to be closed and replaced with a Safer Neighbourhood Team base under plans revealed by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore.

The Ombersley Street East venue has been axed as part of review of the force's buildings which has already saved

£1.5million, cash which will be used to maintain and protect frontline police services.

In total, the force needs to make £20.1 million in savings by 2015 due to austerity measures and Government financial plans for the public sector.

It's expected that officers making up the new Safer Neighbourhood Team will be based in another building in the town which has yet to be confirmed.

Officers could be based at venues such as community centres, group meeting venues, schools or even shopping centres.

Across West Mercia there will be 11 patrol bases and 82 Safer Neighbourhood Teams and each Safer Neighbourhood Team

will have a named local police officer supported by PCSOs, Specials and volunteers.

Chief Constable David Shaw said: “We must ensure the needs of our communities today are met and that means our workforce being visible and located close to communities.

"We found that some of our current estate will not be fit for purpose to deliver our new policing model and some of our properties are very costly to run and maintain.

"Our estate will be smaller in the future and this will release money to pay for our workforce and other resources that deliver protection," he added.

Mr Longmore said: “It is vital to remember at this time that every pound saved on our estate means more money to protect people from harm.

"Fewer buildings equals more protection and the innovative new ways of working we will be delivering as part of our new policing model will mean less need for expensive buildings which are not fit for purpose.

"Ultimately the fewer buildings we have and the more we reduce our estate the more resources we will have to protect communities.

"However despite all these changes the public will see an increased presence on their streets and channels through which they will be able to meet and speak with a member of our workforce will be broadened," he added.

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