News

Council and Police to share offices

Released on 01 July 2010

At its executive meeting this week, Surrey Heath Borough Council gave the go-ahead to proposals for sharing its headquarters in Camberley with officers and staff from Surrey Police.

Discussions have been taking place to relocate the neighbourhood policing team currently based at Camberley Police Station into the borough council offices. This will enable more joint activity between the police and the borough council in tackling local issues, particularly anti-social behaviour. Similar co-locations have proven highly successful in Runnymede and Woking.

Plans are now being drawn up to move the officers into Surrey Heath House and establish a police front counter within the Council's Customer Contact Centre, to maintain public services currently available at Camberley Police Station.

It is anticipated that the policing team would move into Surrey Heath House from autumn 2010.

Leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council Cllr Moira Gibson said: "Earlier this year the council decided it would look to establish a strong and continuing presence for public services being located closer together, starting with the co-location of other service partners in Surrey Heath House.

"We already work closely with the police and the opportunity to share the council offices will enhance existing relationships as well as bring efficiency benefits to support the delivery of services to the public."

Superintendent Rachel Tills, who heads Neighbourhood Policing in Surrey Heath, said: "The decision by Surrey Heath Borough Council to go ahead with co-location is great news. Working closely with partners in local authorities will enable us to provide a more effective and joined-up service when tackling local problems and has proved highly successful in other areas of the county.

"Sharing facilities means the public will also have a convenient one-stop-shop where they can access local services. We look forward to working with our council colleagues to get the team in place by the autumn."