A POLICE station has reopened to the public after undergoing an 11 month makeover.

Southend police station, in Victoria Avenue, Southend, now has new internal offices and a smarter exterior.

Chief Insp Simon Anslow said the work will help officers deliver better services for the town.

He said: “The building was built in the 1960s but it really wasn’t fit for purpose, we had ceiling tiles hanging down.

“The offices weren’t flexible enough for us to be able to use them since we changed the size of our workforce so we wanted a much more flexible space.

“We ripped out most of the walls in here, created open plan offices.

“A much more professional environment has been created, we can fit many more people in here.

“It’s a real commitment to Southend- this is a police station that is going to stay in the heart of the town, delivering the best policing service for Southend and the surrounding areas.”

The changes have also created special meeting areas so officers can work more closely with other groups such as social services and charities.

The station closed in June last year and officers have been based at Westcliff police station, with custody and investigations being carried out in Rayleigh.

Mr Anslow said: “Custody won’t be finished until later in the year. We are going to continue to work out of Rayleigh and our investigation teams will continue to work out of Rayleigh as well.

“Once custody is built everyone will be back in this station and we will be operating at full power for Southend.

“Now we are back in the heart of the town, close to the town centre, able to respond more quickly and from a place that suits modern policing.”