‘Outdated’ Bethel Street Police Station to close for 18 month revamp

Work to revamp Bethel Street Police Station in Norwich’s ^[1] city centre will begin in August and will see staff moved into temporary accommodation for the next 18 months. The move will see frontline officers move into temporary accommodation in the rear car park while building work progresses.

It will also see the Public Enquiry Office relocating to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre from July 3. Parts of the building date to the 1930s and 1960s, meaning the infrastructure is no longer fit-for-purpose – it’s outdated, inefficient and costly to run.

The redevelopment is part of the constabulary’s wider estates plan and will enable the modernisation and rationalisation of the estate so that the force can make millions of pounds of savings over the medium to long term.

Chief Constable Paul Sanford said: “We’re committed to maintaining a strong, visible presence in Norwich to help prevent and tackle crime and this project is all about supporting that commitment by futureproofing our presence in the city. The existing Public Enquiry Office at Bethel Street will be closed as a result of the works and temporarily relocated to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre.

“I understand this solution won’t be ideal for everyone, but due to the security provisions required for the front office, moving into temporary accommodation at the site, or at another location in the city centre, wasn’t an option for us. However, improvements to the station and the facilities it offers, includes making the front-facing public office more accessible to our communities”

During this time a range of temporary measures will be in place for Public Enquiry Office functions:

The Bethel Street public enquiry office will be relocated to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre, Penfold Drive, Wymondham, NR18 0WZ.
Public attending Bethel Street will be able to speak to public enquiry staff by using the yellow phone at the entrance, between 9am and 5pm Monday to Wednesday, and 9am until 6pm between Thursday and Saturday. Outside of these hours, the yellow phone will be redirected to Norfolk Constabulary’s control room.
Public enquiry offices remain open in King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth.
Anyone wishing to hand in found / lost property will be able to utilise a drop box facility (at Bethel Street Police Station’s entrance) for smaller items, whilst larger items will be organised by the public enquiry staff via the yellow phone facility.

References

^{^} Norwich’s (www.norfolklive.co.uk)
^{^} Route revealed for controversial 112-mile-long electricity pylon plan across Norfolk (www.norfolklive.co.uk)