Police join forces at Colchester Garrison
24 Jan 08
Community policing has taken on a new meaning in Colchester as three different police forces have moved in together for the first time in the country. Report by Rob Mead.
Left to right: PC Audrey Hart (Essex Police), Coporal Sam Bramma (RMP) and PC Fiona Rice (MDP) now serving side-by-side at Colchester Garrison police station
[Picture: Andy Cargill ABIPP]
For the first time on this scale anywhere in the UK, military, defence and civilian police have joined forces in one location at the Colchester Garrison Police Station. The initiative is a result of a Garrison Neighbourhood Action Panel initiative - a new one-stop police shop for the people of south Colchester.
Previously, the three forces of the Royal Military Police (RMP), the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and Essex Police all had their own stations covering the south of Colchester and the Garrison itself. Now with a new £560m Garrison and around 2,500 new homes changing the shape of the area, which will see service and civilian families living side-by-side, it was felt it was time to join together.
The initiative brings together the three forces in one location at Colchester Garrison Police Station, the existing home of 156 Provost Company, RMP. Essex Police has relocated 24 of its officers and civilian staff from the main station of Southway and its Neighbourhood Police Station at Shrub End to take up permanent home at the Garrison Police Station.
Colonel Tony Phillips hands the key to Assistant Chief Constable Carmel Napier
[Picture: Andy Cargill ABIPP]
Colonel Tony Phillips, the Garrison Colonel, said:
"This has been an aspiration for many years and we are absolutely delighted with the new arrangement. The three police services already co-operate extensively but this initiative will allow much greater collaboration on a daily basis to more effectively target policing needs in the area, both military and civilian. It will also provide fundamental reassurance to service families while their spouses are deployed on challenging operations abroad."
Major Jon Hipkins is the Officer Commanding 156 Provost Company, RMP. Maj Hipkins said:
"By co-locating all three services in the Garrison Police Station we are opening up our resources for the other services to use, and ensuring closer co-operation between us all to the benefit of the people of Colchester, both military and civilian."
Left to right: Sergent Eric Hirons, Major John Hipkins And Inspector Andrew Fusher
[Picture: Andy Cargill ABIPP]
Inspector Andrew Fusher, head of the South Colchester Neighbourhood Policing Team, added:
"For the first time we will have all three policing agencies working together from the same building to deliver neighbourhood policing thereby making Colchester an even safer place to live and work."
Sergeant Eric Hirons, the MDP Senior Police Officer in Colchester, said:
"Our Unit Beat Officers will focus on support to Service families, especially when a member of the family is abroad on operations."