Formby Police Station to close down

Formby Police Station is to be closed down as well as Southport, Ainsdale, Crosby and Maghull with Copy Lane in Netherton being retained as Merseyside Police look to close down a number of stations across Merseyside in a bid to save money. Marsh Lane station in Bootle would be refurbished as area HQ.

Merseyside Police say Southport Police will be disposed of, with a community police station and general enquiry office in its place.

At least 20 police stations are set to be closed and sold off in the massive Merseyside Police savings shake-up.

The force, which has been hit by swingeing government cuts, will today announce plans to close a number of neighbourhood stations and cut the numbers of buildings it leases.

A 10-year modernisation plan will see £130m ploughed instead into providing smaller, cost-efficient “community police stations” – which could be based in shared facilities like libraries – a new organised crime centre in Speke and the refurbishment of the force’s city centre headquarters at Canning Pl;ace in Liverpool city centre.

It is understood that the force believes it can save £2.5m each year on the current £12m cost of its estate.

Under the plans, set to be unveiled at the Canning Place HQ, each local authority area would have an area headquarters, with many stations closed and replaced with community stations or “patrol hubs”, where beat officers would be based.

Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy said: “Our stations and facilities are no longer fit to serve the public or fit for the officers, PCSOs and staff that work in them.

“By transforming our estate, creating more efficient and effective buildings, we will be protecting frontline policing and putting officers where the public want to see them – in the communities they serve.”

Under the proposals, a new centre designed to tackle serious and organised crime will be created in Speke. The force also wants to carry out a £26m refurbishment of Canning Place “for essential repairs to be delivered.”

A public consultation begins today. For details go to takingtherightsteps.com

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