West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has welcomed the relocation of local police teams in Aldridge.
Aldridge and Brownhills neighbourhood officers have moved in with West Midlands Fire Service colleagues, following the decision to relocate the former Aldridge police station earlier this year.
The new base, located at Aldridge Fire Station on Northgate, keeps officers in the heart of the communities they serve, while moving them closer to parts of the town which has higher demand for their services.
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, who owns all West Midlands Police buildings, said: “I welcome the opening of this new police base in Aldridge, which delivers on my commitment to ensure that local neighbourhood policing teams remain within the community that they serve, which is exactly where they need to be.
“By working in partnership with the fire service, we are ensuring that officers have modern, 21st century, fit-for-purpose facilities that represent value for money and will deliver effective and efficient policing for the people of Aldridge.”
The PCC added: “This move is based on the independent, objective and impartial operational policing judgement of the Chief Constable and is part of my commitment to rebuild community policing, to ensure an accessible, reassuring and visible police presence, to prevent and tackle crime, promote community safety and keep people, families, businesses and the local community safe and secure.”
The new Aldridge police base brings the total of West Midlands Police offices within West Midlands Fire Service stations to six alongside Billesley, Dudley, Haden Cross, Northfield and Willenhall.
Commenting on the new police base in Aldridge, Simon Tuhill, Chief Fire Officer for West Midlands Fire Service, said: “I’m confident this partnership will bring lasting benefits to our teams and the communities we serve. It will help both services optimise resources, reduce costs, and reinvest savings to improve service for our communities.
“By working together, we also enhance our approach to risk management. Such cooperation means we can deliver faster, more integrated responses to incidents.
“It will foster a stronger understanding of each service’s operations, enabling more effective mutual support.”
The former Aldridge police station was listed for disposal in 2018 when the then Police and Crime Commissioner agreed to the Chief Constable’s recommendation to dispose of the site. That decision was carefully scrutinised in a public meeting and the plans openly communicated.
Cash from the sale of the building will pay for the move and changes inside the fire station to make it suitable for police use. The remaining funds will be reinvested into front-line policing.
Bloxwich police station remains the borough’s policing headquarters in Walsall. It includes a public contact office where people can talk to West Midlands Police face-to face. People can get advice and report crime 24/7 via the police website or by calling 101, or in the event of an emergency by calling 999.
For more information about the local police team in Aldridge, including the names of officers and details of future meetings, click here.
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