Essex Police blueprint: Proposals for police station front counters
Essex Police is undergoing a review of all aspects of policing
which will culminate in the implementation of a new policing model
known as the ‘Blueprint’, from March 2012.
Today, Tuesday, August 23, 2011, we have begun the process
of consulting with staff through Unison on proposed changes to our
police station front counters. The consultation period is expected
to conclude towards the end of November 2011.
In June and July 2011, Essex Police and Essex Police Authority
engaged with local people through online and face to face surveys.
We asked the public what they considered to be important about the
policing service they receive in their area. The results of this
survey have helped shape our proposals for the future provision of
police station front counter services.
In the online survey, the majority of respondents, 62.6 per
cent, stated that they had not visited a police station in the last
12 months. In the face-to-face surveys carried out by our
engagement teams in locations such as supermarkets and shopping
centres, an even higher proportion of people, 76.2 per cent, stated
that they had not visited a police station in the last 12 months;
when asked how they would report a crime, 94 per cent of people
said they would want to do this via the telephone.
In addition, we have monitored attendance by the public at
police stations across Essex and it is clear that demand is often
very low. In fact, one of our police stations recorded an average
of one member of the public visiting every two days. In light of
this, Essex Police has very carefully considered the best way in
which we can provide front counter services to the public at the
same time as providing value for money and keeping as many police
officers working in neighbourhood policing as possible. Under the
new Blueprint we are increasing the number of police officers in
neighbourhood policing teams by around 12 per cent (from 472 to
527), helping to increase our visible policing presence.
We have listened to the views of the people of Essex and we will
ensure that our core stations will remain open during the times
when they are most used. Our consultation which begins with
staff today (Tuesday, August 23, 2011) will focus upon
altering the opening hours of some police stations and the closure
of front counter service desks in others.
The consultation plans propose that 9 core stations will remain
open to the public between 8am and midnight, 7 days a week. These
stations are: Basildon, Grays, Harlow, Southend, Rayleigh,
Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree and Clacton. If these proposals
are confirmed, out of hours contact direct to the Force Information
Room will be provided through a dedicated telephone outside the
police station.
It is proposed that a further 16 stations will offer a front
counter service from 12noon to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. These
stations are Halstead, Saffron Walden, Maldon, Pitsea, South
Ockendon, Brentwood, Loughton, Witham, Great Dunmow, Southminster,
South Woodham Ferrers, Canvey, Tilbury, Billericay, Epping and
Harwich. In addition, Harwich will also be open from 12noon –
6pm every Sunday. Importantly, 96.6 per cent of Essex’s population
will still be within 10 kilometres of a police station front
counter. Therefore, subject to consultation, we propose to
have 25 police stations across Essex providing front counter
services for local people throughout the year. A map of these
25 police stations can be found in Appendix 2.
It is crucial for residents to understand that even when a front
counter service desk is closed, officers in many cases will still
use the building as a base. Officers will continue to be available
on patrol 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the front office is
open.
With 94 per cent of people in Essex telling us that they would
wish to report a crime via the telephone, we are making it easier
for residents to contact us. Essex Police is delighted to be part
of the launch of a new national non-emergency number: 101. Anyone
in Essex who wishes to contact the force can dial 101 from anywhere
in Essex and will be put through to our switchboard. Our previous
non-emergency number, 0300 333 4444, can still be used for the next
18 months. Of course, 999 should still be used in an emergency.
In addition, Essex Police is proposing to introduce a Crime and
Incident Management Bureau (CIMB) which will provide an enhanced
service for anyone reporting a crime or anti-social behaviour
incident. The CIMB will provide a 24 hour crime bureau with
the ability to record and manage crime investigation. It will
ensure the robustness and consistency of all investigations, ensure
that the best and most successful practices are constantly shared
throughout the force, and provide a focal point of contact for
victims of crime and ASB.
Appendix 1 contains details of the 21 police stations where we
are proposing to close the front counter service, subject to
consultation.
Our neighbourhood policing teams will continue to be highly
visible and to engage directly with the members of the communities
they serve. Each of our 143 neighbourhood
policing teams run regular Neighbourhood Action Panels and, where
appropriate, beat surgeries, to offer local people the opportunity
to engage directly with officers about the issues that matter to
them. Our seven Mobile Police Stations are typically deployed
in locations where we know members of the public congregate – for
instance, in supermarket car parks in town centres - or as part of
a specific event such as the V Festival or in response to incidents
such as a crime series in a particular area.
In some locations this means that the neighbourhood policing
team (NPT) could work out of other buildings, and several such
operations are already proving successful. For example, in
Tiptree, neighbourhood policing officers are based in the village’s
fire station, and beat surgeries are held locally in a Mobile
Police Station.
As these proposals are now subject to consultation with staff
through Unison, Essex Police will not be able to confirm the
outcome of this process and the final decisions around the changes
in police station front counter provision until consultation has
finished.
If the plans are approved, Essex Police anticipates that savings
will be in the region of £2.5 million which will be a valuable
contribution towards our savings target of approximately £41
million by 2014
In conclusion, Essex Police is a 24 hour service and officers
will continue to be accessible round the clock, every day of the
year, to members of the public.
Appendix 1
It is proposed to close the front counter service desks at the
following 21 police stations. Please note that the specific
local arrangements for each site - such as a proposal to keep
officers working there, or to move the NPT to a nearby fire station
or other partner location, or to sell an individual site - are the
subject of a separate Police Authority ratification process, which
should conclude by late September.
West Mersea - Colchester district
Wivenhoe – Colchester district
Copford – Colchester district
Ipswich Road – Colchester district
Mistley – Tendring district
Brightlingsea – Tendring district
Walton – Tendring district
Thorpe-le-Soken – Tendring district
Great Yeldham – Braintree district
Stansted Mountfitchet – Uttlesford district
Hatfield Heath – Uttlesford district
Moulsham Lodge – Chelmsford district
Leigh – Southend unitary authority
Shoebury – Southend unitary authority
Rochford – Rochford district
South Benfleet – Castle Point district
Corringham – Thurrock unitary authority
Wickford – Basildon district
Laindon – Basildon district
Waltham Abbey – Epping Forest district
Ongar – Epping Forest district
Appendix 2
PDF of map of police stations in
Essex.
