Police bosses search for a new station site in Corby after years without a full time base
Political colleagues police commissioner Danielle Stone and Labour MP Lee Barron have joined forces to ensure that Corby will have a full time police base once again.
Corby criminals easy ride could soon be over, as it has been announced today a permanent police base is being sought in the town’s centre after years of a part time facility.
The police, fire and crime commissioner Danielle Stone has said Kettering will also have a new town centre base and a new fire station, but that ‘Corby is the first priority’.
In a statement released today she said her team have been on the hunt for a suitable site for months. A number of buildings have been considered, but ruled out due to operational or cost reasons. The commissioner’s estates team is currently working with property agents to find a suitable location.
The former town centre station in Elizabeth Street was closed down by the previous Conservative commissioner Stephen Mold back in 2017 and since then the town has only had a minimal police presence, with a small office within the Corby Cube, which is only open a few hours each week.
The town is one of the fastest growing in the country and currently police response teams have to travel down the A6003 from the Northern hub base in Kettering to get to reported incidents in Corby. The town’s MP Lee Barron has been leading a campaign to get a station returned, bringing it up in parliament and declaring it not good enough that people cannot even adhere to their bail conditions in Corby due to the part time opening hours of the existing police base.
Currently £38,000 is spent each year on renting the Corby Cube space, a small proportion of the amount levied on Corby people for policing services.
Speaking to NN Journal today Lee Barron said:
“I’m really pleased that the local community, local politicians and the commissioner has delivered on it.
“It wasn’t just about bricks and mortar, it was about so much more than that, which included getting a dedicated response unit back in Corby. I’m really pleased all round. Now it is just about finding a location. I want it as high profile as possible, so the perception changes back to people feeling safe in the community.”
The commissioner’s office said:
“The new site will be home for the town’s neighbourhood policing team and an open public enquiry office. If a suitable site can be found, response police officers serving the Corby area will also move in - however the priority is to make sure that local officers and staff are in the heart of the town as soon as possible.”
Until a new office is found, commissioner Stone’s office is trying to extend the opening hours at the Corby Cube, which is owned by North Northamptonshire Council.
And like Corby, Kettering had its town centre police station mothballed. The commitment is for a new town centre base for neighbourhood policing teams and a new fire station close to the police’s northern hub off the A6003 will also be built. The plan is also to keep a police presence in Weston Favell, and this may move into a new building in time.
Commissioner Stone, who was elected just under one year ago, said:
“I’m really pleased to give firm commitments that will make Northamptonshire Police officers more accessible in the towns they serve, and to provide a great, new facility in Kettering for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“I know how much it means to people to have a reassuring police presence in the heart of their community to deter and prevent crime and keep our streets safe. I pledged to make closer connections between communities and their police and fire service - this is another step forward.”
Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said:
“Our police officers have always been working hard to keep people across the county safe. I know how important it is to the public to see their police officers and PCSOs in the heart of their community and know how to contact them.
“Corby and Kettering will have the visible and reassuring police presence that they deserve, and we are looking at ways to engage with all of our communities across the county. I’ve seen for myself the impact that reopening our enquiry office at Campbell Square in Northampton has had for example.”
Why are they looking for a new site when the previous building is still there and empty???
As you know, there has been three Commissioners in Northamptonshire since 2012.
None of them have been an outstanding success. One shut Police station down, and the latest one, want to open them up. Yet, the Economics situation for the country is much worse now then it was seven years ago, when the Police station were close. Does it make any sense to you? ..I would conclude there is a strong case to make the Commissioner office redundant.