Police Join Forces at New Garrison Station

Community policing has taken on a new meaning in the Essex town of Colchester, as three different police forces have moved in together, for what is believed to be a national first.

Military, defence and civilian police have joined forces in one location at the Colchester Garrison Police Station as a result of a Garrison Neighbourhood Action Panel initiative - a new one-stop police shop for the people of south Colchester.

Previously, the three forces of the Royal Military Police (RMP), the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and Essex Police all had their own stations covering the south of Colchester and the Garrison itself. Now with a new £560m Garrison and around 2500 new homes changing the shape of the area which will see service and civilian families living side-by-side, it was felt it was time to join together.

Essex Police has relocated 24 of its officers and civilian staff to take up permanent home at the Garrison Police Station.

Colonel Tony Phillips, the Garrison Colonel, said, "This has been an aspiration for many years and we are absolutely delighted with the new arrangement. The three police services already co-operate extensively but this initiative will allow much greater collaboration on a daily basis to more effectively target policing needs in the area, both military and civilian. It will also provide fundamental reassurance to service families while their spouses are deployed on challenging operations abroad."