Avon and Somerset police are the latest public sector partner to move to the Shape Mendip public services hub in Shepton Mallet.
Approximately 15 police staff are now based at the hub, joining other leading public service providers such as Mendip District Council, Somerset County Council, Shepton Mallet Town Council, Capita and The Landscape Group. More public service providers are expected to relocate to the hub in the coming months.
Local residents who need to contact the police can now visit the hub at Cannards Grave Road between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours, they will need to call 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
The former Shepton Mallet police station will now be used solely by specialist police teams working across the county, and is no longer open to members of the public.
Police Inspector Mark Nicholson, Neighbourhood Manager for Mendip, said: “The local policing team at Shepton Mallet is excited to be part of the Shape Mendip Hub.
“We are based in a better working environment and are working alongside our key public service partners who share our vision of making Mendip an even safer place to live and work.”
Donna Nolan, Corporate Manager for Governance, Assets and Public Spaces at Mendip District Council, said: “I’m delighted that the police have joined us on site at the Shape Mendip Hub. The aim of the hub is to bring public services together on one site to make it easier for local people to access the services they need, so having the local policing team on site is a really positive step.
“The hub is already home to a number of leading public service providers and I look forward to even more joining us in the coming months.”
The creation of the public hub is a groundbreaking idea from Mendip District Council, which has seen the authority maximise the use of its council offices in Shepton Mallet, saving local taxpayers millions of pounds.
Once staff from all of the other public services have relocated to the hub, almost 600 jobs will be based at the Shepton Mallet site.