ESSEX Police headquarters could go under the hammer as the county's Police and Crime Commissioner looks to made further savings.
Nick Alston says a decision will be made in the summer over the building in Kingston Crescent, Chelmsford, following scrutiny of the constabulary's 80 properties.
He said: "We've got more space than we need and we have to start investing in our future. The backlog of maintenance work required to these buildings has been estimated at £30 million.
"I believe I can cut 25 per cent of our running costs with the changes I plan to make."
The Essex Police estate totals 1.25 million square foot, and many of the current buildings are old, outdated and no longer fit for the demands of modern policing, he said.
Mr Alston revealed that even if he were to leave the estate untouched, it would cost an additional £1.75m per year to maintain it.
The options, which police bosses are currently reviewing, include the sale of some police stations as well as the reduction of the Chelmsford headquarters off Sandford Road.
Mr Alston and Essex Police chief constable, Stephen Kavanagh, will also consider the possible creation of centralised policing hubs in each local authority area.
Speaking specifically about Chelmsford, Mr Alston added: "We have two main options. We can move everything out of Springfield and develop elsewhere, or we could sell off part of our current plot and redevelop our existing base.
"But we have historical ties to this site and it would be cheaper to develop our own land. However, it's prime restoration land and it's ideally situated for potential buyers.
"We're excited about what the future holds.
"If we did move I think we'd look to move away from a residential area. We're a 24/7 building.
"We'd want to go somewhere where we're out of town and not clogging up the roads. We'd look to develop on the edge of the city."
Mr Alston continued that Essex Police is committed to tackling emerging online crimes such as grooming and fraud, and changes are necessary for combating such challenges.
He highlighted how the force could use money from any closures into more technologically sound equipment such as modified laptops.
The police boss also suggested working in partnership with the community as one option being looked at is sharing. In Tiptree, police already share accommodation with the fire service.
But Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, felt that the continual public sector budget cuts could be slowly changing the way regional forces police our streets for the worse.
The 48-year-old said: "We are drifting away from neighbourhood policing. We are cutting 600 police officers from the Essex Police force before April 2016.
"We're facing £72.5 million of cuts, and cuts have consequences.
"It's not an exaggeration to say we might end up becoming the East of England Police Service and join up with forces in Suffolk and Norfolk soon."
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