New Budget Cuts Force Change of plans
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg, has announced he is again considering sharing accommodation with the Fire Station in the Town Centre.  Our Police Station is currently located at Parsons Court on the Business Park and it has been agreed it should return to the town centre.
Mr. Hogg said, “We have been trying to relocate the Police Station back into the Town Centre following its closure in 2010. The public want a town centre presence where they can go in and speak to an officer.
“The Government announced in June that the Force will lose even more money than previously indicated, so this means having a fresh look at all the options. I am conscious that this issue has dragged on for a while which is not made easier by the Government’s decision to take more money off the Police Service.”
“We are also being told that we need to collaborate more with other services and it would seem to make sense to talk to the Fire Service about working together and saving money, by sharing their building which is next to the old  Police Station.
This option, if it goes ahead, could save the Police around £100,000 per year which we can use to maintain Police Officers and possibly increase the number of PCSO’s in the town. It would also free up the existing site putting it to better use, such as economic development. Once the plans have been finalised with the Fire & Rescue Authority we will let people know the precise details.”
Readers will feel the Police have broken another promise, but when you look at the cuts faced by the Police the economics do begin to make sense, particularly if we get more police officers on the beat.