DUDLEY is to have its own police station for the first time in six years following an announcement by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster.

The PCC has confirmed that Dudley will have a new police HQ within Castlegate Business Park, just north of the town centre.

The Dudley Local Policing Area’s current HQ in Brierley Hill will be sold, with the force actively looking for a new base in Brierley Hill for the local neighbourhood policing team and emergency response officers. 

“I am delighted to announce that Dudley is set to get a brand-new police station,” the PCC said. “I have been working hard to deliver on my pledge that Dudley will have its own police station since I was elected in 2021.

“The new police station will be fit for the 21st century and it will become Dudley police’s headquarters. It will be a base for the local neighbourhood policing team, for force response and it will have a front contact office that the public can attend, speak to a police officer and report crime.

“I am committed to rebuilding community policing, to keep people, families, businesses and the local community safe and secure.”

The news was welcomed by Dudley councillor Keiran Casey (Labour, Castle & Priory), who said: “I’ve been spearheading this campaign since securing the pledge from the PCC a few years ago, so it’s great that the promises which were made are now being delivered.

“Crime and anti-social behaviour is one of the top things that residents raise with me as a local councillor and I know what a big issue this is for our communities, so I have no doubt that this new modern station will make a massive difference to addressing some of these issues locally.”

Dudley town centre has been without a police station since 2017 in a move to cut costs.

Earlier this year, it was reported that West Midlands Police’s ‘super station’ in Dudley would replace the Footman James building within Castlegate Business Park.

A source said: “I believe negotiations have been taking place with a company that is looking to move from Castlegate and, therefore, these contracts which have now been exchanged are for West Midlands Police to secure the new building where the police station will be located. These works are just being finalised.”