Essex police sell buildings and houses to raise £5m
Nine police stations, five houses and four other buildings are to be sold by Essex Police to raise up to £5m as part of its revenue savings plan.
The force needs to make savings of more than £42m a year by 2014/15.
Major parts of this campaign are a restructuring of the force and a rationalisation of the police estate of 110 buildings.
A review has identified a number of buildings which were going to be under-used in the new structure.
Police Stations at Brightlingsea, Great Yeldham, Hatfield Heath, Mistley, Moulsham Lodge, Rochford, South Benfleet, Stansted Mountfitchet and Walton will be sold.
Also going on to the market are houses at Springfield Road and Pitsea, and other police buildings at Hadleigh, Kelvedon Hatch, Tolleshunt D'Arcy and Westcliff.
Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said: "These decisions are driven by the commitment to provide the most efficient and professional policing operation possible for the people of Essex.
"Faced with highly challenging budget cuts, the Essex Police Authority and the force have had to make some very tough decisions.
"Ultimately, we do not believe that lighting, heating and maintaining a building that is under utilised is the best use of Essex taxpayers' money.
"Through our recent restructuring programme and new shift patterns, Essex Police is maximising the number of officers available to investigate crime, police the streets and respond to emergency incidents."