THE former police station in Tilbury, which has been closed to the public since February 2016, has been sold.

The building, on Civic Square which was built in the seventies to replace the town's historic station, continued to be used as a base for some operations but in September 2021 Essex Police announced that would cease and building would be prepared for sale.

The property was put on the market in 2022 as a 'potential development opportunity', with an initial guide price of £1 million, though that was later dropped to £850,000.

Now the force has confirmed a deal has been done, but have not disclosed details of the purchaser of the price tag.

The history of the site and its ownership remains something of a mystery.

It was widely believed that the property was under the ownership of Thurrock Council. So much so that when news of the closure was announced in 2016 with just three days notice, Cllr John Kent, then the Labour leader of the council, said: "I can't believe the police have taken this decision now. They know we are absolutely against the closure of both Ockendon and Tilbury police stations, yet they give us so little notice. It's despicable.

"Not only is it a slap in the face for the people of Tilbury and Thurrock, it's a slap in the face for their landlords – Thurrock Council owns the land and the building, so I've asked officers to check whether they're allowed to quit this way."

It was a matter Thurrock Nub News sought to clarify. However, the council, which it appears may have transferred or gifted ownership previously to the police force, steadfastly declined to respond to our questions about the historic ownership of the site and what had transpired. Essex Police also declined to comment.

An aerial view of the site.

When the police station was closed there was considerable public concern about the impact of increase crime in the area. That remains today and unsavoury incidents in the town regularly make the news.

Only last week staff in the nearby Tescos store on Calcutta Road were approached by a man with a knife, though the incident was played down by police who said: "Officers were called shortly after 7.50am on Friday, 11 October.

"It was reported a man was causing a nuisance inside the shop and behaving in an anti-social manner.

"It was established the man had left the scene. Officers engaged with and offered reassurance and advice to staff."

Divisional police commander Chief Inspector Tony Atkin, has repeatedly assured residents in Tilbury that policing is adequate and today (Wednesday, 16 October), when the sale was confirmed, he reiterated that, saying: "Our officers and Police Community Support Officers in our local and community teams have continued to police Tilbury and are out on the streets every week protecting residents, serving the public and victims, while preventing and detecting crime.   

"We want our officers out in our communities, listening and responding to your concerns, and not behind desks."  

A police statement added that the front counter at Grays Police Station, the only accesible police point in the borough, "remains open and is staffed by Essex Police employees from 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday."