Camberley police officers move to council building

Front counter services have moved from a Surrey police station to nearby council offices as the force tries to save £52m over 10 years.

Surrey Police said the counter at Camberley station was now at offices in Surrey Heath House in Knoll Road.

The police station will be considered for sale when the remaining staff have been relocated.

The move follows a review of the force's buildings, which suggested many were costly to maintain.

Privacy concerns

Surrey Police said security measures were in place at the council offices.

A spokeswoman said there had been a concern over privacy and whether people would be able to talk.

She said: "We have made small interview rooms available where people can discuss policing and crime concerns."

She said security measures were also all in place to protect computer access and passwords.

Emergency buttons had also been installed if something were to happen, she added.

Surrey has four custody suites none of which was at Camberley, she said.

The spokeswoman said there would be no prisoner transport or prisoner containment at Surrey Heath House.

The force has said its local police stations are underused and retaining the old buildings costs £2.4m a year.

It said savings from station closures would enable the force to recruit up to 200 extra police constables.

The stations facing closure are at Sunbury, Ashford, Banstead, Leatherhead, Walton, Egham, Oxted, Horley, Haslemere, Cranleigh, Farnham, Ash, Ripley, Cobham and Molesey.

Operations in Dorking, Esher, Camberley, Epsom and Godalming are set to move to co-located sites.