Former police station left to rot
EERIE pictures show weeds and vandalism at an abandoned police station that was axed because of police cuts.
The crumbling building in Warwick, which has lain empty for five years, is one of more than 600 nationally that have been closed since 2010.
Warwick police station was closed and sold off as part of a round of cuts in 2013, which also saw the closure of another station in Kenilworth.
Warwickshire Police said at the time: “The changes to our estate will enable us to make better use of our resources, whilst maintaining an effective and efficient service to the public, and having fewer police buildings with lower running costs overall will release additional finances to pay for our workforce and other resources that deliver protection.”
But demolition work has yet to begin on the site to make way for a proposed medical centre and weeds have begun to take over the once thriving police station.
Nationally some police forces have shut over half of their sites since 2010, and communities say crime has soared as a result. Police Federation National Chairman John Apter said: “The closures Warwick police station is one of more than 600 closed since 2010 mean we are at risk of being elderly, who do not access services less visible to the public than we online.” are already. Mr Apter added: “If there’s a
“I fully accept that with the choice between police officers financial pressures chief constables and buildings it’s a stark choice, are under tough decisions but I would have to go for police have to be made but you can’t officers. ignore the needs of the public A Home Office spokesperson who understandably expect and said in a statement: “Police have demand to have a visible policing the resources they need to carry presence on their high street. out their vital work.
“The consequence of the closures “However, we know the nature is that in effect the police are of crime is changing. retreating from the high street. “That is why we provided a
“While some forces are finding strong and comprehensive settlement ways to work with people like the that is increasing total fire services and councils to offset investment in the police system the cuts in some cases this isn’t by over £460million in 2018/19, happening and it’s to the detriment including increased funding for of some of the most vulnerable local policing through the council people in society, such as the tax precept.”