Plans for new police base in Tendring
New facilities will mark a "significant" investment in the area
A new police base could be on its way to the Harwich and Dovercourt area.
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex is said to be developing plans for new facilities, marking a "significant" investment in the area.
It will also help officers deliver the "best possible service to the communities they serve".
One of the options being considered is developing the Dovercourt Fire Station site to accommodate a new, additional base for Essex Police.
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, said:
"The current police estate in Harwich is no longer best suited to the way officers work today and will do in the future.
"The costs of maintaining the building is significant but more importantly it also restricts and limits the way the police can work and how they can collaborate with partners.
"As a key policing base within an operationally important part of the country we want to improve the facilities available for policing and in the New Year will be starting to look at how we can invest in the area."
Essex Police has said they are "committed to keeping communities safe, protecting people from harm and working with our partners to prevent and detect crime".
To achieve this, the force said it is important they consider the changing needs of the communities they serve, the changing nature of crime both locally, nationally and internationally and take advantage of modern technology and working practices.
Officers also now work more closely with other emergency services, such as Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, and wider partners such as councils and the business and voluntary sectors.
Mr Hirst continued:
"At the moment we are considering our options however, developing a new police base, more suited to modern policing is possible and one of the options we will be considering is the opportunity to develop the Dovercourt Fire Station site to accommodate a new, additional base for Essex Police.
"This would support closer collaboration between the services, allow us to invest in a long-term opportunity and help to improve the service provided to the community.
"This would not have an impact on the fire station or the services and response that the Fire and Rescue Service delivers, nor would it diminish the service which Essex Police provides to communities in north Essex."