Police station closures mean more bobbies on the beat, says crime commissioner

The police chief was speaking after it was revealed more bases could close in the county on top of the seven that have already gone since 2013.

Whitchurch, Bridgnorth and the front counter service in Shrewsbury town centre could be the next to go to save cash.

They would join Albrighton, Cleobury Mortimer, Craven Arms, Ellesmere, Newport, Much Wenlock and Shifnal which have all already shut.

But Mr Longmore said there was a strong case for change.

"The Government has consistently continued to cut the amount of funding we get in West Mercia," he said.

"We have to find ways of trying to sustain the same levels of service, with significantly less money."

"I have worked closely with the Chief Constable to try and find ways of saving money, without compromising the level of service people get.

• Albrighton, property was leased saving £6,454 a year.

• Cleobury Mortimer, property was leased saving £9,331 a year.

• Craven Arms/Church Stretton, sold for £150,000 saving £14,465 a year.

• Ellesmere, sold for £140,000 saving £33,041 a year.

• Newport, sold for £320,000 saving £24,462 a year.

• Much Wenlock*, property was leased saving £48,000 a year.

• Shifnal, building decommissioned, but yet to be sold, saving £16,400

*Decommissioning being finalised – retaining significant amount of the site for pepper-corn rent

"Every aspect of policing here has been reviewed to try and find more efficient ways of working, and what we found in those reviews was that some of our police stations and buildings simply did not represent good value for money to the public purse.

"Some were being used so little that it would be difficult to justify the costs of them, regardless of whether belts were being tightened or not.

"Running costs often go into tens of thousands of pounds each year for a single police station – even if they are just sitting empty.

"If that station is busy and well used, then there's a strong argument that it's a cost worth paying.

"If it isn't, it's only right to ask the question 'is that money well spent?

"In numerous cases, buildings were costing thousands of pounds, and the number of people using them, including staff, each week was in single figures.

"It's clear that new technology like computers and mobile phones have vastly decreased the need to visit police stations for everyone, and as such, some of the buildings just can't be justified or sustained with the financial pressures we have."

Albrighton and Cleobury Mortimer have been replaced by community policing posts in village and market halls, with its local police officers relocated to Malinsgate in Telford and Bridgnorth and Ludlow respectively.

Savings in running costs amount to £6,454 per year for Albrighton and £9,331 annually for Cleobury Mortimer, with both buildings subsequently being leased out.

In Craven Arms, the station has been sold off for £150,000 and replaced with a community policing post at the town's community centre, saving £14,465 per year in running costs.

A community policing post has also been set up in Ellesmere at the town hall, after the station was sold off for £140,000. Officers have been relocated to Oswestry police station and respond as necessary, with the move saving £33,041 annually in running costs.

In Newport, the station has been sold off for £320,000, with a community policing post set up at Burton Borough School. Running costs of £24,462 per year have been saved.

In Much Wenlock, although the station has officially closed and been rented out, the local officer team has been allowed to retain a base there at a peppercorn rent, saving nearly £50,000 a year.

And in the most recent closure, at Shifnal, a community policing post is to be set up at the town library, saving £16,400 per year. The station building will be eventually sold off.

The new base at Shifnal costs just £1,500 per year, police said.

"Quite often these new posts are actually in better locations than the old police stations – places like libraries, town halls and schools – which have many more people using and visiting them," Mr Longmore said.

"More use of mobile police stations will allow visits to be made to all parts of West Mercia, and local commanders will be responsible for making sure their communities are well served by them.

"We will monitor these schemes as they progress, but these solutions are not about removing officers, or pulling out of communities.

"It purely means that their presence and visibility is delivered at a fraction of the previous cost.

"Above everything else though, the efficiencies we make mean we are able to retain more of the officers and PCSOs who help keep our communities safe.

"The number of officers in West Mercia actually increased by 50 last year as we try to get the force back up to full strength.

"That is almost unheard of nationwide, as the overall number of officers across England & Wales dropped by over 1,000 in the same period.

"We are able to sustain our current officer numbers, because we are finding the necessary savings elsewhere – including our estates.

"Many people may say 'it isn't the same as it used to be', losing some of our police stations - and they'd be right, it isn't.

"I understand their point of view – when I was in the police almost every village had an officer, crime was very low, and officers were in very close contact with their local communities.

"Policing and crime has changed dramatically in the last 25 years though, and will continue to.

"Some of the decisions we have to make at the moment aren't easy, and inevitably some won't be popular either – but this is about doing what's right, responsible and realistic, and evolving with the times.

"Where money is concerned, our hands are tied by government to a large extent and we have no choice but to find the best and most practical solutions in the circumstances.

"Making better use of our buildings and police stations is already saving almost £750,000 a year in West Mercia, and has generated over £3.5m in revenue since 2013.

"Incorporating every single efficiency across the organisation, £23.5m has been saved in West Mercia since 2010.

"There is no doubt policing is changing rapidly, and current financial pressures are only accelerating those changes.

"Although there will be more savings, and more difficult decisions in the years to come, I'm confident West Mercia is in a much healthier position than most forces, when it comes to trying to sustain the level of service the public gets."