A POLICE presence in Tenbury has been secured.

In an exclusive interview with the Advertiser, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore revealed that plans are at an advanced stage to move the police into the Fire Station.

The 77-year-old Police and Crime Commissioner, who is stepping down in May, said that he had put his foot down against closing the existing police station until an alternative had been found.

Under the new arrangement the police will rent space at the fire station in Burford, enabling the force to have a presence on the edge of the town.

Bill Longmore believes that having the two emergency services in the same building made sense.

“It is a model that we are seeing used in other places and there is sense in having the emergency services based in the same place,” he said.

“There is room in the fire station and it is the most suitable of the various options that were considered.”

It is known that a number of alternatives were looked at including locating the police in the library and Worcestershire hub building in Teme Street.

But the fire station will offer advantages including parking space. Additional room at the fire station in Burford has been created since the town lost its second fire engine as part of cuts to the Hereford and Worcester Fire Service.

“When I was a policeman, there would be queues of people at police stations,” added Bill Longmore.

“However, that has changed and there is no need for the police to have their own building in every town but there does need to be somewhere that they can use as a base.”

Other initiatives are on the cards to try to improve policing in rural towns like Tenbury.

This will include a drive to recruit more Special Constables who are volunteers but receive full training and have the same powers as a salaried policeman or woman.

“In the past there has been a tendency for Special Constables to be younger people who use it as a route into the force,” added Bill Longmore.

“I would like to see more local people who know the patch where they live and want to serve the local community.”

He said that Special Constables are ideal to be brought in to support regular officers at busy times.

“There are many very special challenges to policing, especially in rural areas like Tenbury and the blue line is pretty thin,” Bill Longmore added.

“In rural areas the population may be small but the number of people can be massively increased during the tourist season and when there are special events like agricultural shows.”

The plan to close Tenbury Police Station was first raised three years ago in February 2013 and raised a storm of protest in the town.

“It has all taken too long but I am pleased that we now have a solution that can work for the town,” Bill Longmore said.