Chief Constable unveils plaque at new Sandwell Police headquarters
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THE NEW Sandwell Police headquarters has today been officially opened by the Chief Constable in a special unveiling ceremony.
The chief constable, Mr Chris Sims, pulled the cord to unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the station, in the heart of West Bromwich town centre.
The new three-storey building on Moor Street replaces the police station in New Street, after Tesco was granted planning permission for redevelopment of the site in 2010. Tesco funded the relocation of the station to Moor Street as part of the plan.
The chief constable was joined in the ceremony by Sandwell Commander, Chief Superintendent Mark Robinson, Police Authority members Councillor Bob Jones Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee, Authority Vice Chair Councillor Diana Holl-Allen, Councillor Keith Davies and Phil Homes JP and from Sandwell Council, Councillor Derek Rowley.
Mr Sims said: "This is a great event for us as a force, and for the local policing unit.
"West Bromwich is the first major police station to be opened for some time in the West Midlands and it is a great building that has risen very quickly from the ground, although this project has been going on for a considerable amount of time.
"The building that is here today is all about serving the borough of Sandwell, and it is a statement about our presence right in the heart of West Bromwich."
The station is home to the management team for Sandwell Local Policing Unit (LPU), as well as West Bromwich sector neighbourhood teams, Sandwell response officers, and the borough's Criminal Investigation Department.
Chief Superintendent Robinson added: "The station provides a great focal point for the town, and indeed is a great resource for ourselves and the community.
"The facilities at our disposal are second to none and it is great to have a suitable base from which all of the teams covering this area can work as one.
"The new station marks a new era for Sandwell Police and I am proud to be commander for such a vibrant and exciting borough."
Councillor Bob Jones, member of West Midlands Police Authority, said: "The new building has been paid for by Tesco and is an excellent example of investment in securing modern facilities and regenerating the centre of West Bromwich. We have worked together with Sandwell Council to invest in a plan which has brought both a new Police Station and a new Tesco building to the area, all of which is very good news for people in Sandwell."
The new station is open to the public 24 hours a day.
During his visit to Sandwell Chief Constable Sims visited a local operation as part of the Sandwell Safer 6 campaign which is currently running across the borough, to combat crime and anti social behaviour.
The chief visited officers conducting an automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) operation running in the town centre. The system automatically checks the registration plates of vehicles passing and flags up any cars with are being driven illegally, possibly without insurance or tax, as well as any vehicles which may have been suspected of involvement in crime.
Officers worked with colleagues from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) who were on the lookout for vehicles being run on red diesel, which can only be used on private land. To use red diesel in vehicles on public roads constitutes tax evasion.
Chief Inspector Bal Sidhu, of Sandwell Police, said: "The Safer 6 campaign is all about crime-fighting organisations working together to increase enforcement action and provide additional reassurance at a time of year when crime and anti-social behaviour often rises.
"It will build on the success of last year's campaign and will also show to everyone, following the disorder we saw on the streets in August, how we are all working together to keep our communities safe."
Photo:
Left to right: Jonathan Simpson, regional corporate affairs manager for Tesco; Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services; Councillor Keith Davies, Sandwell Council's Police Authority representative; Diana Holl-Allen, Authority Vice Chair Councillor, Chief Constable Chris Sims, Chief Superintendent Mark Robinson, Assistant Chief Constable Garry Forsyth, Mr Phil Holmes, Police Authority member.
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