Whitchurch and Wem are set to see their police stations relocate as part of a money-saving move.

West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion made the announcement today, pledging to ensure as much money as possible is spent on frontline policing.

Both police stations will be teaming up with NHS provisions in their respective towns.

The move will see Whitchurch Police Station, which is currently based on Station Road, will co-locate with Whitchurch Community Hospital on Claypit Street.

Mr Campion said the reasoning is because the building no longer being fit for purpose, with a modernisation costing too much to make it suitable.

Meanwhile, Wem Police Station in Edinburgh House will co-locate with the community clinic on Aston Street because the existing building is “too large”.

The announcement also revealed police stations in Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury town centre will be relocating with Bridgnorth’s team sharing the town’s fire station building as the current station is too large, while the Shrewsbury team will move in with the town council at the Darwin Library because the current station is poorly located.

Mr Campion said the decision follows a review of all police buildings which found a number aren’t currently being fully utilised.

He added that by working with partners, as part of the One Public Estate Programme (OPE) he has been able to identify where savings can be made by co-locating buildings without reducing the level of service the public receives.

Mr Campion continued: “Our police force needs to be in fit-for-purpose buildings that support the new technology we are introducing.

“It is also important that, while doing this, we are identifying savings and ways of working better and more closely with partners.

“Placing the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in shared spaces that are regularly accessed by members of the public will allow the police, and their services, to be made even more accessible than they were before.”

The changes to police stations may not end there with Mr Campion revealing he plans to continue to review all buildings with a view to exploring opportunities with any compatible partners or organisation to co-locate and share efficiencies.