New police base for town found but not yet bought
BBCA building for a new police station in a town without one since 2017 has been found, a commissioner said.
The station on London Road in Kettering, Northamptonshire closed when officers relocated to the Weekley Wood Justice Centre on the outskirts of town.
Northamptonshire's police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) Danielle Stone said her office was looking to purchase a Kettering building to convert it into a new policing hub and front desk.
But her spokesperson said no more details could be given as "legal negotiations with the site owners" were needed.
Labour's Ms Stone told a police, fire and crime panel meeting on Thursday it was "good news" a location in the town had been found.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the former station in Kettering was sold in 2024 for £1.1m, of which the PFCC received £722,781 due to the split ownership with North Northamptonshire Council.
The panel also heard a new station or base for Corby had not been found.
At the moment, people can talk to neighbourhood officers on the fourth floor of the Corby Cube building.
Officers respond to 999 calls in the town from the Northern Accommodation Building on the outskirts of Kettering.
The short-staffed neighbourhood office was criticised last year when it emerged suspects had been told to take photos of themselves to prove they were complying with their bail conditions, rather than being checked by an officer.
Opening hours were increased following complaints.
Ms Stone told the panel: "I've had people in my estates team spending hours and hours looking online, picking up the phone, talking to people in Corby, and we haven't come up with any satisfactory solution."
She said if an appropriate building could not be found, police may have to operate out of more than one base.
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