A COUNCILLOR questioned the head of Essex Police about Witham police station and the future of police stations in the county. 

Bill Rose, Braintree District Councillor, spoke at the Essex Police Challenge at Brentwood Theatre. 

The event is a key part of how Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, holds Stephen Kavanagh, the Chief Constable of Essex, to account on behalf of the people of our county.

The meeting began with an introduction from the PCC and Chief Constable. There were then presentations, with questions and answers from the audience, about:

– the financial challenges
– the policing context
– the Essex Police property estate
– improving contact between police and the public
– proposals for local and community policing

Mr Rose said he accepted savings have to be made but the decision to close Witham police station was wrong because people were using it. 

He asked is the closure based on financial decisions as the land for the magistrates court had been sold for bungalows to be built.