Police review of building use could close old-style stations

Findings from the work, by a company called Faithful and Gould, are expected to be returned to the force later this month and will be used to help senior managers to decide which buildings should stay as they are, which need refurbishment and which should be sold.

South Yorkshire Police currently has almost as many buildings as much larger forces elsewhere.

In future its officers are likely to be accommodated in fewer buildings, with a shift away from traditional police stations to more conventional office-type accommodation.

There is also the aim for its accommodation to be more economical to run, with the service's sustainability manager already working with the Carbon Trust to find ways to reduce energy use.

The force has also already contacted the county's four district councils to explore any potential for saving money by sharing buildings, an idea which could see local neighbourhood officers work from a library rather than a police station, for example.

West Bar police station in Sheffield is in the process of being sold and eventually that should mean the current force headquarters in Snig Hill being taken over as a police station, with managers moving out to an office block.

Snig Hill is regarded as a more appropriate location for a police station because it is closer to the city centre than West Bar.