POLICING in Evesham is set to enter the 21st Century, boosted by £400,000 of Government cash.

The money will enable West Mercia Constabulary to build a new police station next to the Victorian building currently housing Evesham officers.

Vacating the existing building, which has outlived its usefulness for modern policing needs, could enable the groundbreaking one-stop shop Evesham Community Contact Centre, located next to the current station, to expand into the premises which would become empty.

The £398,500 allocated to Evesham will enable West Mercia to accommodate extra officers currently undergoing training plus community support officers who will be deployed to supplement mainstream policing in the town.

State-of-the-art information technology to be installed in the new station will also help boost the crimefighting efforts of the police.

The money was secured from the Home Office as a Premises Improvement Fund (PIF) grant. West Mercia is receiving a total of £898,500 in grants, from a national share-out of £20million.

Allen Peach, West Mercia press officer, said: "The old Victorian police station is totally inadequate for modern policing needs."

Bob Forster, who chairs West Mercia Police Authority, said: "Having the right police stations and posts clearly visible, with the right facilities and in the right areas of the force, is a vital contribution to public reassurances and visibility - two of our aims."

The Evesham Community Contact Centre, located in the town's former magistrates' court beside the police station, houses representatives of various organisations.

They include police and Evesham town, Wychavon district and Worcestershire county councils.

Expanding into the old police station once officers move into their new premises could allow other agencies to join those already offering services in the centre, said Wychavon's democratic services manager, Amanda de Warr.

"As part of West Mercia's bid for this cash, they stated their intention to work with us and our other partners to further develop the services offered at Evesham," she added.

"Although proposals are at a very early stage, this is great news and means the partners can now look at expanding the service we provide even further."