Police move base across town into fire station
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue ServiceA town's neighbourhood police team has officially moved into its fire station, leaving its old dedicated base up for sale.
Northumbria Police officers moved out of Washington Police Station, near the Galleries shopping centre, and relocated to Washington Community Fire Station on the other side of town.
The force said the ageing building was no longer being fit for purpose and required "significant investment" which would not offer value for money.
It said the old site had been secured while it continued to look for a buyer, and added the new site would not be open to members of the public.
Washington Police Station had not been open to the public for a number of years, which would continue to be the case at the fire station, the force said.
GoogleWhen plans were announced, there had been concerns there would no longer be a "proper police presence" in the town.
Ch Supt Mark Hall said: "Our top priority has always been to maintain our policing presence in the heart of Washington."
He said the move would strengthen its partnership with the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
He added: "The former Washington Police Station is an old building which was no longer fit for purpose and would have required considerable investment.
"It is important that we are providing our communities with value for money and we want to direct the resources we do have available into operational policing to keep people safe."
