Eighteen police stations will shut across Sussex.
Sussex Police has revealed it will close stations across the county including in Burgess Hill, Heathfield, Horsham, Uckfield, Eastbourne, Lancing, Littlehampton, Newhaven, Shoreham and Steyning.
The major crime headquarters at Sussex House in Hollingbury, Brighton, and the historic Slaugham Manor, near Crawley, will be shuttered.
The force is planning to replace standalone stations with front desks and offices inside other public and private buildings, including libraries and possibly supermarkets.
The cost-cutting plan was signed off by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, on Monday.
In a report released by the force yesterday, it revealed plans to cut floor space by a third in a bid to save £50m by 2015.
At its headquarters in Lewes it will lose 6,000sqm - despite officers being moved there from Sussex House.
But John Street Police Station in Brighton will not be knocked down, as had been suggested previously, and about £14m will be spent improving it.
The force said it will replace the 25 buildings it plans to close with 30 new outlets.
It added it wanted to model these on Hove Town Hall. In February, Hove Police Station in Holland Road was closed and a front desk and office opened in the town hall.
The station has now been sold to Brighton and Hove City Council and will be transformed into a school.
Burgess Hill Police Station
Chief Constable Martin Richards yesterday told The Argus he would not rule out creating stations in supermarkets and cinemas.
Ms Bourne said she would prefer to partner with libraries and local authorities.
In total Sussex Police plan to spend £39.7 million during the next five years on its buildings.
Key investments include £6.3 million refurbishing Lewes headquarters, £14 million improving John Street in Brighton, £2.8 million updating the training facility at Kingstanding, near Mayfield, £2 million on a new station in Worthing, £1.5 million creating a new firing range with Surrey and £1 million vacating Sussex House.
Other stations set to be redeveloped include Bognor Police Station, parts of Chichester Police Station, Crawley Police Station, Hammond's Drive Operational Base in Eastbourne, Hastings Police Station and Haywards Heath Police Station.
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne
Ms Bourne also mooted the idea of sharing police stations with neighbouring forces including Hampshire, Kent and Surrey.
Ms Bourne said: “Crime doesn't consider borders and we could share provisions in the future.
"In the 21st century people access police services in many different ways and so we are looking to reduce the number of out-dated and expensive police stations.
“We will replace them with community hubs and public contact points where a number of public services can be accessed in one location, like the example in Broadfield Library in Crawley and the town hall in Hove.
“It is about putting policing back at the heart of the community.
Chief Constable Martin Richards said: “Increasingly people want to report crime and access other services online, which they can now do on our website, but we know this won't work for everyone.
“Many people are attached to our traditional police stations, but they're often not convenient for people to get to.”
Stations which Sussex Police will close and replace with shared facilities:
Astley House
Lewes Battle Police Station
Burgess Hill Police Station
Centenary House, Durrington
Parts of the Chichester site
Crowborough Police Station
East Grinstead Police Station
Eastbourne Police Station (Grove Road)
Heathfield Police Station
Hangar at Shoreham Airport
Horsham Police Station
Lancing Police Station
Littlehampton Police Station
Midhurst Police Station
Newhaven Police Station
Peacehaven Police Station
Petworth Police Station
Pulborough Police Station
Selsey Police Station
Shoreham Police Station
Steyning Police Station
Uckfield Police Station
Unit six, Cliff Industrial Estate, Lewes
Stations which Sussex Police plans to get rid of permanently:
Slaugham Manor Training Facility
Sussex House, Hollingbury, Brighton
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