Police Box and Town Hall Base to Close in Brighton and Hove
The closure of a police box and town hall base in Brighton raises community concerns
Brighton, Hove, Sussex Police, Community Safety, Police Closure
It seems like this police box is the last one in the area, following a trend of closures across Brighton and Hove. Many of these boxes have been repurposed into homes.
Sussex Police are also pulling out of Hove Town Hall, where they’ve been for nearly a decade. This follows the closure of other police facilities, like the Margery Road box and the old Hove station, which is now a school.
Labour councillor Jacob Allen, who represents Woodingdean, expressed his disappointment. He mentioned that the local PCSOs relied on the police box to stay connected with the community.
He’s worried that closing the box without community input could leave the area feeling less safe. The site is small, and he questions what could be done with it if it’s sold off.
Sussex Police explained that they’re reviewing their estate to ensure their buildings are suitable and efficient. They plan to dispose of the Woodingdean police box by December 2024.
They also mentioned that the Hove Town Hall site hasn’t been public-facing for years, so they don’t expect much impact on the community when they leave.