Understand
Essex Police opens its first new station in 17 years by sharing land with fire service
Overview
Essex Police has opened Dovercourt Police Station, its first new station in 17 years, built at a reduced cost of £4.5m by sharing land with Dovercourt Fire Station. The facility replaces the former Harwich station and is designed to provide modern, flexible workspace rather than traditional front desks, which officials note have been superseded by improved 101 services and digital contact methods.
Key points
- Dovercourt Police Station was built for £4.5m on spare land at Dovercourt Fire Station, previously the fire service station commander's house.
- The new station is Essex Police's first new station in 17 years and replaces the old Harwich station located 1.5 miles away.
- Combining the police and fire services under the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has saved over £20 million since 2017.
- The facility features modern technology and flexible spaces, reflecting changes in modern policing where officers can submit data while on patrol.
- The station does not feature a traditional front desk, relying instead on an external yellow phone for 101 calls and digital services like the 'Bobby' chatbot.