London's police force is planning to sell off or lease more than half its buildings and open stations in supermarkets, office blocks and industrial estates, in a radical shake up of its property.
Metropolitan Police Property Services said today it wanted to replace around 60 per cent of its buildings over the next 10 years, which have an estimated value of around £1.5 billion.
"Increasing officer numbers, shifting crime hot spots, changing demographic borough growth and the threat of terrorism all require radical thinking to ensure we deliver complex frontline policing needs with an affordable solution," Property Services director Mr Alan Croney said.
Under the banner "Building Towards the Safest City", some buildings will be sold, some leased out and others refurbished. New police station and patrol bases will open alongside police kiosks and mobile stations to cope with specific incidents. Some 35 per cent of London's police buildings date back to before 1935 and there is a £52 million maintenance backlog doubling every two years.
Metropolitan Police Property Services has more than 600 operations buildings used by around 42,000 police officers and civilian staff.
Mr Nicholas Long, of the Metropolitan Police Authority, which makes the force's budget decisions, said it "recognises that some response teams may be better located on industrial parks and that in future, police stations should be closer to places such as shopping centres".