Police clear-out helps out community groups

West Midlands Police is clearing out offices as they are sold or refurbished

Thousands of items are being passed to community groups as a police force clears out its buildings.

West Midlands Police said it had donated goods such as noticeboards, exercise mats and plastic aprons as sites were refurbished or sold. Coventry scouts, Smethwick schools and Birmingham care homes were some of those who have already benefited.

The scheme started when the force cleared out its Windmill House building in Smethwick before it was sold.

In the coming weeks, work will start on modernising Wolverhampton and Stechford police stations. The force has disposed of eight sites in the last two years and is in the process of selling five more as part of a money-saving strategy.

Items which could not be reused were offered to local organisation for free through freecycling websites such as A Good Thing, Rachel McCarron, from corporate asset management said.

"This initiative is a win-win. We're supporting good causes, saving public funds and reducing environmental impact at home," she said.

Environment and sustainability manager Adrian Shortland said it also tied in with the force's bid to reduce its environmental impact,

He said: "The scheme is hitting our environmental priorities of creating a low carbon, sustainable estate; being sustainable in our operations; and generally being an environmentally responsible organisation."

West Midlands Police has around 100 commercial premises in total, some of which are leased.

Its Estates Strategy was updated in 2023 and aims to achieve £65m from the sale of sites and also cut maintenance costs by £19m.

Buildings in Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall are among those already sold.