Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, is pleased to be delivering on his pledge that will see Dudley Police’s all-new headquarters open later this year.
Building work on Dudley Police’s new headquarters is on track, with the site scheduled to open in the autumn.
Work on the site, at Castlegate Business Park, started in March following the purchase of the former insurance call centre.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford and Police & Crime Commissioner Simon Foster saw for themselves the progress being made in a special visit for local councillors and community representatives, led by Chief Superintendent Anthony Tagg, who is responsible for policing across the borough.
Plumbers, electricians, bricklayers and other skilled workers are now turning the site into a fully functioning police station, for the hundreds of officers, staff and volunteers who will be based there. One of the priorities is to create a public contact office where people can report crime and get advice in person.
The creation of the new police station honours the PCC’s and West Midlands Police’s commitment to open a new station in the town, made when the old station closed. It will also replace Brierley Hill police station which currently serves as the Dudley Police’s headquarters. However, Brierley Hill will retain its own dedicated new police base within the local community for the local neighbourhood police teams.
The PCC is now pleased to announce that the Brierley Hill neighbourhood teams will remain in Brierley Hill, at a new permanent base at Cable Plaza near the Waterfront.
The Chief Constable, PCC and Ch Supt Tagg visited Cable Plaza where Brierley Hill’s new police base will open in the coming months.
The new site, just half a mile from the current police station, will house two neighbourhood policing teams, when Brierley Hill police station closes in the autumn.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster said: “I have been working hard to deliver on my pledge, that Dudley will have its own new police station and I am pleased to see the progress being made to deliver on my pledge.
“The new police station will be fit for 21st century policing and it will become Dudley Police’s Headquarters.
“It will be a base for the local neighbourhood policing teams, for response and it will have a front contact office that the public can attend, speak to a police officer and report crime.
“I am also pleased to announce, that we have secured a new police base for the Brierley Hill neighbourhood police teams, that will be fit for 21st century policing.
“I am committed to re-building community policing, to prevent and tackle crime and keep people, families, businesses and the local community safe and secure.”
Brierley Hill police station has been listed for closure since 2018 when the decision was made following careful public scrutiny of the plan.
Speaking about the new Dudley site, Chief Constable Craig Guildford, said: “This is a fantastic development of an iconic building close to the castle.
“The building had been completely gutted by local tradespeople. The project has created jobs and putting money into the local economy – just what every responsible public sector organisation should do.
“The geographic location of the new police station will help us to respond in an efficient manner while co-locating with the council at Cable Plaza in Brierley Hill is good news for the tax payer and helps us build effective working relationships.”
Chief Superintendent Anthony Tagg, the commander for Dudley local policing area, added: “It’s pleasing to see work well underway on the new police station and borough headquarters.
“We’re all keen to move into our new modern facilities. We’ll be sad to leave the old Brierley Hill station but the reality is, the site is not fit for purpose and refurbishing it does not make economic sense. Our hard-working police officers deserve better and so do the victims and witnesses who come into the building.
“The new Castlegate site will have the latest victim care facilities and a new public contact office so that we can get the best possible evidence from people.
“Importantly, our new Brierley Hill base is in a fantastic location that strengthens joint working.”
Dudley police station will be the second new police station to open in the West Midlands this year. Sutton Coldfield’s police station will relocate from its current site on Lichfield Road to a new station on Anchorage Road, around 300 metres away.
In November last year, a new police base opened in Copthall House, Stourbridge and another in the Canley area of Coventry this spring.
The Police and Crime Commissioner owns all West Midlands Police buildings. The Chief Constable is responsible for how the force use those buildings, to enable police officers to keep people safe.
The decision to acquire or dispose of sites is made by the PCC, based on operational policing recommendations made by the Chief Constable. The recommendations are fully scrutinised in public meetings with the relevant documents published on the PCCs website.
To keep up to date about policing in your area, sign up to West Midlands Police’s free messaging service, WMNow. Visit: wmnow.co.uk
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