Billericay Police Station Closure

Essex Police announce closure in Summer 2024

Andrew has made representations to the District Commander

Residents will be aware that, some years ago now, Essex Police first mooted the possibility of disposing of Billericay Police Station. 

The station has been closed to the public for many years and the building is used for administrative purposes and occupied mostly by clerical staff.

Last week, Essex Police wrote to Billericay councillors, informing us that they propose to close the station completely during the Summer of 2024 and ultimately dispose of the building. This is part of their long-standing wider estates strategy, which has involved selling off their older more expensive assets. Subject to confirmation of closure, staff currently working in Billericay will be re-deployed to another operating base. 

"It seems to me entirely rational than our police ought to have higher priorities for limited financial resources than maintaining a portfolio of crumbling heritage buildings." 

The District Commander, Ch. Insp. Daniel McHugh, has assured me the closure will have no detrimental impact on emergency calls or local community policing initiatives, which remain under our local Community Policing Team, as they do now.

For what it's worth, when this was first mooted some 8 years ago, I had a long conversation about it with the then Police & Crime Commissioner, Nick Alston. He certainly made the case that Billericay Police Station is too old and expensive to maintain and it, and buildings like it, were placing an unnecessary drain on policing budgets. The current Billericay Police Station dates back to the 1950s and cost Essex Police around £77,000 p.a. to maintain (that was 2015, so presumably the cost is far higher now).

I concluded that he was right and, consequently, have long been an outspoken defender of the case for disposing of Billericay Police Station. That has not always endeared me to residents of Billericay but it seems to me entirely rational than our police ought to have higher priorities for limited financial resources than maintaining a portfolio of crumbling heritage buildings. Ultimately, no building has ever solved a crime. It is officers who fight crime, so it has been gratifying, therefore, to see both Nick and his successor, Roger Hirst, investing in new tech' and growing the force. Indeed, Essex Police now has more serving officers that at any time in its 183-year history. It is boots on the ground that we need, not bricks and mortar!

That said, the proposal to sell the station having now been in the public domain for a long time, and the topic of much discussion and debate locally. It would clearly be remiss of me if I did not communicate to Essex Police the very strong views that have been expressed to me by my constituents over that time. I have therefore, responded to Chief Inspector McHugh as follows: 

"Dear Chief Inspector McHugh,

Billericians are broadly sensible, practical-minded people and they understand that, comparatively-speaking, Billericay is a low-crime area. But it is not a 'no-crime' area! They are of the view - and they are right! - that Billericay is not just some tiny rural village. It is a major commuter town, and a growing one at that. Billericay experiences its share of crime and anti-social behaviour and residents have been consistent in telling me how dissatisfied many of them are by the perceived lack of a regular police presence in their town.

Whilst I can fully accept the arguments for Essex Police divesting itself of the current 1950s building, which I know is very expensive to heat and maintain, there is a very strong feeling among people in Billericay that there ought to be some kind of permanent base here, to maintain a police presence in the town. 

This could possibly be a 'hub', co-locating with another blue-light service such as the Fire Brigade, or maybe a shared space within the Library or neighbouring Burghstead Lodge (both owned by Essex County Council), or at the Chantry Centre (operated by Billericay Town Council) or the local Community Hub in the High Street (operated by the Billericay Street Pastors). 

I think if this could be considered, it would go a long way to providing the reassurance residents are looking for, as well as acting as a deterrant to would-be criminals. It would also enable members of the local Community Policing Team to spend time here in our community, whilst still allowing Essex Police to divest itself of the financial burden of Billericay Police Station." 

Ultimately, this will be an operational decision for Commissioner Hirst and Essex Police but I hope they will recognise that Billericay is a growing town and will appreciate the need for some kind of permanent policing presence in the town and explore some of these options with partners.