MORE than 100 staff being cut from Essex Police “will invariably lead to the full closure” of an Essex police station – a council leader has claimed reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, has said their are “ no excuses for making these cuts and for killing policing in Basildon” after Roger Hirst, police and crime commissioner for Essex, announced the force will have to make 99 police community support officers (PCSOs) and up to 60 civilian staff redundant due to a funding shortfall of £5.3 million.
However, despite the council leaders’ claims, Essex Police insists there are no such plans to close Basildon Police Station. The force also did highlight proposed cuts in December and the number of job cuts has reduced since.
Mr Callaghan said: “For over a decade, Essex Police have tried to kid the Basildon borough public. These cuts will invariably lead to the full closure of Basildon Police Station. It will mean since the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex was elected, they will have closed five out of five police stations across our borough.
“It’s like the Royal Air Force trying to convince us they can do their jobs by taking planes out of the skies or the Royal Navy telling us they no longer need ships at sea. We’re not buying their spin. Enough is enough. They have no excuses for making these cuts and for killing policing in Basildon.
“The truth is that Essex Police’s funding in 2025-2026 is £431.1 million, which almost £25 million more than it was 12 months previous. They also plan to raise the precept by the full amount again this year. They have more money but want to provide fewer services.
“I am inviting the chief constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner to come to a meeting with the Basildon public urgently at the Towngate Theatre to explain why they are making such a disastrous decision, whilst raising the council tax precept by the full amount. I am also urgently seeking a meeting with the Policing Minister and Home Office Officials.
“Frontline police officers don’t agree with these changes. They know it will harm policing and support criminality in the Basildon borough. Your decision will make community safety much harder and deliver worse outcomes for victims of crime.”
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: “Since 2016 we have been investing in Essex Police, increasing the number of officers by 905. As a result crime in Basildon has fallen, the very latest figures show in the 12 months to the end of December 2024 crime in Basildon fell by 7.8 per cent. The same figures show domestic abuse in Basildon fell by 14.5 per cent. Fewer people are being impacted by crime. In a recent independent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire Rescue Service Essex Police was highlighted as offering excellent value to the public and spends more of its funding on putting officers on the street than almost all other forces.
“The funding settlement provided by government this year has stopped that progress and created a funding gap of £12.5million as funding provided does not cover the increases in wages, national insurance and costs.
