Three Walsall police stations and six bases to close

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Willenhall Police StationImage source, Google
Image caption,
Willenhall Police Station is among the West Midlands Police bases set to close by 2016

Three police stations and six bases in Walsall are to close to save money, West Midlands Police has announced.

The plan is to sell or return the buildings to landlords over two years to reduce the force's £17.5m annual property bill.

Instead some police officers will share the civic centre with local authority and others will move to remaining bases.

The police stations to close are Green Lane, Brownhills and Willenhall.

Bases will also close in Delves, Ryecroft Place, University of Wolverhampton, Hope Street, Blakenall and Bentley Lane.

Buildings underused

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said the decision was due to "considerable cost savings".

"With an estate comprising of over 140 buildings and costing £17.5m a year to run, it is imperative our buildings meet our current requirements," he said.

Mr Jamieson said there were 1,300 fewer police officers in West Midlands than four years ago, meaning some buildings were underused.

Ch Supt David Sturman said: "Many of our current buildings were found to be unfit for purpose and very costly to run."

He the force hoped to keep a base in Willenhall by finding an alternative site.

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