Police chiefs hope officers patrolling Halesowen will be given space for a policing 'hub' when the town's police station closes.

David Jamieson, West Midlands police and crime commissioner, met with Labour councillors last week. It is hoped officers could share a council office or have space in the library.

Mr Jamieson told councillors police stations 'no longer played a major part in modern policing', however some people we spoke to questioned that, saying that a police station is a base for officers to work from; exactly what they hope to create by using a hub.

However Mr Jamieson instead that investment would instead be made in new technologies such as body cameras, which he said, were recognised as beneficial to police when trying to bring criminals to justice.

Mr Jamieson told the Halesowen News: “Tough decisions taken over the past few months mean that despite disproportionate government cuts, I have been able to protect PCSOs from compulsory redundancy.

“Going forward I am working closely with other organisations to allow police officers and PCSOs to share buildings and maintain those close community links.”

He met Halesowen Labour councillors Ian Cooper, Hilary Bills and Donella Russell, who had called for a meeting to quiz him over the future of policing in the town. Officers from Halesowen and Dudley Council deputy leader Cllr Judy Foster also attended the get together at the Beacon Centre.

Cllr Bills said the cells at the police station had been closed for a number of years and the station itself was underused. It is planned to close the station next January.

Mr Jamieson added: “I was pleased to meet with leading councillors in Halesowen to explore the options of basing police officers and PCSOs in council buildings to maintain that local presence.”

The Halesowen councillors urged Cllr Foster to push for the Laurel Lane site to be redeveloped for affordable housing, for which, Cllr Bills said, there was a great need.