Surrey Police to move from Reigate to former HQ following discovery of unstable concrete at station

The force said reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was found within the construction of the station and that officers and staff will relocate to Wray Park for at least the next 18 to 24 months until longer-term decisions and plans are realised.

RAAC is a lightweight material that was used between the 1950s and 1990s. It has a lifespan of around 30 years and is susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture.

Wray Park is the former Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) HQ in Alma Road, located around a mile from Reigate Police Station.

A police spokesperson said: “Following advice provided by independent structural engineers Surrey Police vacated areas of our Eastern Divisional HQ which couldn’t be supported by Acrow-props by the agreed date of November 3. This process saw the moving of the public front counter to Caterham Police Station, and the relocation of other teams to nearby police sites, with others remote working. Now that the immediate concern for safety has been mitigated, the force has been assessing the working environments in which officers and staff are accommodated.

T/Superintendent Jak Bowers said: “In any business continuity situation the circumstances can be challenging, even more so where a building is removed from use in such a short space of time.

“We’re really proud of how our teams have responded with agility and professionalism to such a fast-paced change whilst maintaining a smile and commitment to continuing their service to the public.

“We’ve been reviewing our short-term plans to ensure that our systems are working efficiently, that offices aren’t overcrowded, and that there is an adequate mix of open plan and more confidential spaces for the different types of work our teams undertake.”

Maureen Cherry, Surrey Police’s estates strategy director, said: “It’s with this in mind that we’ve been engaging with the Surrey Fire & Rescue Service and Surrey County Council and are concluding legal arrangements in order to secure space at Wray Park for the next 18-24 months.

“The public, together with our officers and staff, rightly want to know what the future looks like for Surrey Police. I hope that this update provides confidence that our teams will continue to deliver an excellent police service to residents in the east of Surrey, while we properly consider our estate map for the division’s needs.”

Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend said: “This has been a tough time for our policing teams based at Reigate and I want to say thank you to all of them for their understanding while this challenging situation was addressed.

“I am really pleased that we have found a temporary solution that will not only provide a suitable working environment for our teams but will also mean we can maintain our policing footprint in the local area.”