Residents in Norwich are being informed about how to contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team while work commences on a new police station in Earlham.

Full planning permission for the development of the Earlham Operational Deployment Base was approved in May.

The development, which was proposed in our Long Term Estates Strategy, had the full support of Norwich City Council’s planning committee.

The new building will accommodate approximately 70 staff and officers. Three Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be based there.  It will also include a new deployment from for the East of England Ambulance Service continuing our strong working partnership with the service.

There will be a reception area where officers will be able to meet and greet the public as well as a meeting room off the main foyer.

While building work is underway, the three Safer Neighbourhood Teams who currently use Earlham police station will be located at the following sites:

• Earlham, Larkman & Marlpit Safer Neighbourhood Team will temporarily be based at Bethel Street Police Station.
• University & Eaton Safer Neighbourhood Team will be based during the building works at the old Blackdale Middle School site on Bluebell Road, Norwich.
• West Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team will temporarily be based at Lakenham & Tuckswood Police Station on Hall Road, Norwich.

Residents in these areas are also reminded they can contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team in many ways:

• Call 0845 456 4567
• Log onto http://www.norfolk.police.uk/
• Attend a Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting
• Speak to a police officer of Police Community Support Officer on the beat 

Decommissioning works will commence next week with a main contract on site by mid-July.  Building works will take around nine months with the building becoming operational again towards the end of May 2011.