A police station has opened in a Budgens store in Cambridgeshire in what is thought to be the first such arrangement with an independent.

The station opened last week in an office within the Soham-based supermarket. Shoppers who wish to contact the police use an intercom at the checkouts to alert a police offer.

The office is open three days a week and manned by one police officer, a sergeant and four community support officers.

Jonathan James, MD of Top 50 retailer James Graven & Sons and owner of the store, said he had been in talks with the local police for more than a year about opening the office.

"Soham's police station was closed in 2000 and since then there has been a lot of bad feeling among local residents about the closure," he said. "I wanted to do something about that so when I no longer needed the office I offered it to the police."

James, who is also vice chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores, said he had always worked closely with the police and had been in the Cambridgeshire police force for 10 years.

"This is a vital resource for the local community and has already benefited the store because there are fewer shoplifting incidents. A police presence deters youngsters from hanging around," he added.

Fellow Budgens retailer Dee Patel plans to open a satellite police station in his store in Woodbridge, Suffolk, next year. The store is currently undergoing a £1.8m refurbishment.

Asda was the first retailer to open a police station, in its Bedminster store car park last August.

Topics