Sussex police stations may close due to cuts

POLICE stations could face closure as Sussex Police looks to make £52million in savings.

Over the next five years, the force must make drastic cuts, while maintaining services to the public.

A review of police stations, which could lead to some being closed, is underway and the force is also considering making more services available on the internet.

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“Many of our police stations are expensive to run and in inconvenient locations for the public,” said chief constable Martin Richards.

“If we save money on inefficient buildings, or those in inconvenient places, we will have fewer savings to find in other areas.

“If we do decide to close a building that currently has a front-office facility, we will not do so without making sure the local community has something else in its place.”

Sussex Police is looking to consult with the public on the future of how the force is run, through Serving Sussex 2015, a programme of work looking at how to reshape the force.

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Inspector Allan Lowe, from the Adur and Worthing neighbourhood policing team, said: “We would like the public to give their views on all aspects of policing Sussex.”

Insp Lowe has just returned from a seven-month secondment to the Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes, to work on the Serving Sussex 2015 programme.

“While being tasked with identifying the savings, the team were directed to look at ways of maintaining and developing our service to the public,” he said.

Over the coming months, there will be a range of opportunities for local people to have their say.

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The first stage of consultation asks local people about the things they would be happy to do online – for example, reporting minor crime, suspicious behaviour or lost property – and also what they would not like to use the internet for.

Details of how people can give their views on the policing of Sussex can be found online by visiting www.sussex.police.uk

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