A SECTION of Worcester’s Guildhall has been handed over to Worcester police.

West Mercia Constabulary’s city centre police team is now working in a wing of the listed building, allowing them immediate access to the High Street.

Sergeant Peter Aldis, who is in charge of the team, said people were already noticing the positive effects of the move. He said: “It means we have got a much more visible presence and people keep telling me they are seeing more officers around.”

As previously reported in your Worcester News the police were looking for office space to rent after facilities at Worcester Police Station in Castle Street became cramped. There were four desks for 23 people.

The new office means there are four desks for eight people. There is also a meeting room and small kitchen area.

Sgt Aldis said the force had made a decision not to have vehicles based at the Guildhall.

“I want to encourage officers to interact with the public and make them available to people on the High Street,” he said.

“Foot is the best way for most of the stuff we deal with.”

There was controversy following the story in your Worcester News at the end of last year, when a spokesman for the force suggested that the move would provide officers with somewhere to have a cup of tea.

Neither the police nor Worcester City Council, which owns the Guildhall, have been willing to say how much the force is being charged for the space.

The office is not a police station for public use and anyone who needs police assistance should continue to use the main station in Castle Street.