POLICE stations across Wirral could be closed and replaced with a single “command centre” and smaller “access points” elsewhere, under a controversial plan to be considered this week.

New centralised police stations could also be rolled out across the rest of Merseyside in each of the police force’s six “basic command units”.

Merseyside Police Authority is looking to create an Area Command Centre (ACC) which would be used to respond to emergencies.

Consultants Turner Townsend were commissioned to produce a report for the Authority on “the development of a generic Area Command Centre”. Their initial report was considered at a committee meeting behind closed doors on July 18, and will be presented to the full Police Authority on Thursday.

The recommendation of that estates committee is for the police authority to approve “the principles of the generic Area Command Centre design”.

Wirral has 10 police stations, at Wallasey, Moreton, Hoylake, Upton, Heswall, Bromborough and in Birkenhead at Mortimer Street, Well Lane and Laird Street and the Pyramids shopping centre.

Many are only open 9am-5pm or 10am-6pm, except Bromborough which is 9am-7pm, Wallasey is 8am-midnight and Mortimer Street, in Birkenhead, which is open 24hours.

Wirral Conservative councillor Kate Wood, a member of Merseyside Police Authority, said: “We are looking for an area command centre, but that is not to say all the police stations will close.

“The ACC would be a replacement for the Birkenhead station near the town hall, and for Laird Street, which is not fit for purpose. Everything else will hinge on when and where we get the site for the ACC.

“When that is decided, after that will come the review of what we have and where we need to be for access for the public.”

Cllr Wood said all the basic command units which comprise Merseyside – Liverpool North, Liverpool South, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Wirral will need new stations.

Cllr Wood said the authority was looking at “generic command units” across Merseyside, but added: “It’s basically a consultant’s report at this stage”, and emphasised that no greenfield sites were being considered for new stations.

The report says the authority is considering various sites for the new command centre in Wirral, which could be the first part of Merseyside to go forward with this new approach.

It is understood that Beaufort Road, in Birkenhead, is believed to be one of the sites favoured.

The report said: “This issue had been considered carefully within the Force and work is ongoing to time response to all areas of the Borough.”

It said: “Although a single response site was the preferred option, if timings were considered inappropriate, a second response site would be considered.”

The report said that “until the preferred Area Command Centre was identified, the impact on other sites could not be reviewed”.

At that point, it continued, “an impact assessment would be undertaken and the Authority’s policy on the closure of access points (ie, stations) would be imp-lemented and full consultation with stakeholders held.”

It also said: “Any closures would not be implemented until new access points had become operational.”

Wirral Conservative councillor Leah Fraser said: “The Police Authority has been struggling for years with a lack of funding from the Government. It seems highly likely that a new Area Command Centre in Wirral could be the starting point for the closure of stations around the borough.

“The new ACC may well bring benefits. However, if the impact assessment suggests the closure of stations such as Wallasey or Moreton, then I’m afraid the Police Authority and the Government will have a fight on their hands.

“By closing police stations and transferring to a new Area Command Centre, there will, no doubt, be a saving on running costs.

“However, the true cost – to the communities which see their local stations close – cannot be found in a balance sheet.

“The likes of Wallasey and Moreton need local police stations and, before anything else happens, we must be given assurances they are not under threat.”

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police and the Police Authority said they were unable to comment ahead of the meeting on Thursday, where members will look at the ACC policy.