Investing in the frontline

Former police station in Ongar goes up for sale

The former police station at Ongar is to go up for sale as Essex Police and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner continue to realise resources to invest in the front line and use your money wisely to put more officers on the streets.

The former police station in High Street, Ongar closed to the public in 2011 and our intention to sell it formed part of our 2015 public announcements.

Essex Police officers and staff will continue to be visible and accessible to the Ongar community – as they are now.

As has been well publicised since 2015, we have continued to sell parts of our estate that are old, inefficient, out of date or not best geographically placed to serve the needs of our communities. Some also require a significant investment to maintain as well as to bring them up to a standard fit for the purpose of modern policing.

Whilst we have sold some buildings, we have:

• invested in refurbishing strategically placed police stations that can serve our communities and remain publicly accessible.
• invested in shared co-locations with our partners to ensure financial efficiency and enhance partnership working.
• continued to invest in a police service that is visible and accessible to all our communities with more than 3,600 officers currently protecting and serving Essex. We want officers out in their communities – both rural, urban and coastal – not behind a desk because it is police officers that catch criminals, protect victims and prevent crime.

In addition to the accessibility and visibility of officers, Essex Police has worked hard to make itself more available to the public.

It:

• continues to operate a number of police stations across the county which are open to the public. has a digital 101 service on its website for people to report crime as well as a Live Chat function.
• routinely holds and attends meetings with the public in addition to engaging with them when out and about.
• created a new e-newsletter Dispatch which gives people regular weekly updates about how Essex Police officers have secured justice and continue to protect you, the public.

Chief Inspector Tina Cooper, District Commander for Brentwood and Epping Forest, which covers Ongar, said: “We know that police stations are symbolically important, but the reality is it is police officers who catch criminals, protect victims, prevent crime and engage with our communities.

“The community want local, visible and accessible policing, and that is what they continue to have in Ongar where our officers are out every day.

“These dedicated officers continue to respond to emergencies, investigate crimes and work to resolve local problems.

“They also work alongside partners to protect people from harm and prevent crime occurring and the sale of the former police station will make no difference to the good service we provide to our public.”

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Police officers prevent crime and keep people safe, not buildings, and there are now more police officers in Essex than ever before, protecting our community. This is because of both our and the Government’s continued investment in policing over the past five years. The sale of the former Ongar police station, which hasn’t been open to the public for more than a decade, will bring significant money back into the Force which will be invested straight back into frontline policing.”

The Essex Police front counter at Harlow is staffed by Essex Police employees from 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday. Visit www.essex.police.uk/digital101 to find out more about our website reporting services or alternatively you can call 101. To sign up for the weekly e-newsletter Dispatch visit: Dispatch | Essex Police