Brentwood Police Station, August 2018

urbexdevil · Aug 12, 2018

With an ever lasting itch to explore a prison or police station that needed scratching, the time came to explore Brentwood Police Station. Unfortunately solo but a great explore despite!

So after finding a good access point and choosing my moment wisely between passers by, I found myself within the grounds of the police station and soon inside.

The building is mostly stripped out and a bare shell but that wasn’t the main sight to see, I had my mind set on finding the cells! After trying every door it was just my luck they were in the last place I looked.

Attempting the court house adjacent the police station proved unsuccessful.

History courtesy of Mockney Reject

In December 2015 Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston announced that 15 police stations were to be closed to the public in Essex as part of a £63million spending cut. Brentwood Police Station was one of 9 closing completely. He stated that the buildings were buildings were no longer fit for purpose.
“Police officers, not buildings, fight crime,” Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said.
“We spend too much on too many police buildings, many of which are either no longer fit for policing or are hardly used by the public to report crime.

Bentwood Police station closed to the public in April 2016, and was vacated in December 2017. Operations have now moved to the local Town Hall. The building was closed as it cost £10million per year in running costs, and would have cost a further £30million in maintenance to bring it up to standard.

Kemsley LLP announced the marketing of Brentwood Police Station for proposed residential development. The site extends to approximately 2.75 acres and a planning application is to be submitted for 70-100 dwellings as part new build, part conversion of existing buildings.

verdigris · Mar 29, 2024

thanks I remember it, it was a nice looking and imposing building. Some quality fittings eg the parquet flooring. Shame it was closed.
(Essex resident here)

Hayman · Mar 29, 2024

“Police officers, not buildings, fight crime,” Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said. On the same principle, do away with prisons. Just where were the police supposed to work from if not from buildings? Was this the start of 'work from home'? And where were suspects to be interrogated and locked up? I bet Kavanagh had a nice office in a nice building.

archer · Apr 7, 2024

iirc the Regional Crime Squad was based there mid 80's

night crawler · Apr 7, 2024

Hayman said:
“Police officers, not buildings, fight crime,” Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said. On the same principle, do away with prisons. Just where were the police supposed to work from if not from buildings? Was this the start of 'work from home'? And where were suspects to be interrogated and locked up? I bet Kavanagh had a nice office in a nice building.

What happened to all the Village cop shops we used to know, the one where I live is now some ones house and the old police station in Wallingford gone and is now a housing estate, you hardly ever see a cop around now thanks to people like Kavnagh.
Nice tour of the place but is this an old thread with no reply's from 2018

Hayman · Apr 7, 2024

night crawler said:
What happened to all the Village cop shops we used to know, the one where I live is now some ones house and the old police station in Wallingford gone and is now a housing estate, you hardly ever see a cop around now thanks to people like Kavnagh.
Nice tour of the place but is this an old thread with no reply's from 2018

In the same way cottage hospitals went, to be replaced by 'regional body repair factories'. Rather than having a presence locally and on the streets - to prevent crime - all the police do now is to react once crimes have been committed. And then the sentences are minimal.