PLANS to close two police stations in Notts and move them into council offices have been approved – and politicians say they are keen to see it happen elsewhere.
At its meeting yesterday, Notts Police Authority gave the go-ahead for police contact points to be set up in Beeston and Arnold at council premises.
They will be used to house neighbourhood policing teams, with the Arnold service set to open by next summer and the one in Beeston by April.
The areas would be similar to the contact point in West Bridgford, where police and Rushcliffe Borough Council work in the same building.
Glynn Gilfoyle, chairman of the police authority's finance and business committee, said: "This kind of thing is the way forward and I expect to see more in the future."
Authority chairman Jon Collins also backed the move.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Scarrott said: "Part of the success story of recent years has been people working together. Engagement of the service to protect communities is vital."
Eric Kerry, county councillor for Beeston South and Attenborough and a police authority member, said: "Locating the police alongside the borough council's housing and community safety, and other services including housing benefits, the county council contact point and Citizens Advice will deliver an even more integrated first point of contact for service users and improve outcomes for residents.
"It's the way forward for modern service delivery. Not only will the sharing of information and intelligence be improved, but complex service user needs can be addressed more speedily and more efficiently.
"A working group to deliver the project has been set up so that the move can be completed quickly, hopefully by April 2013."
Gedling Borough Council will be converting the former stores building in Jubilee Road, Arnold, into office accommodation for the police.
It is expected that the county Supporting Families Team will also be based in the building.
The police will pay a rent of £25,000 for the lease of the building over the next 10 years.
In Beeston, the council will let the police move into the ground floor of its Foster Avenue offices.
The police have been offered a 15-year lease for the building, with rent costing £23,400 per year.
The police will also give the council a one-off fee of £50,000 for the space and for providing showers and other facilities.
A further £100,000 will be provided by the police to make internal alterations to the building to make it suitable for their use.
Do you think the plans will improve policing in your area? Let us know by e-mailing newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
