Work on building, expanding and refurbishing police stations across Essex is behind schedule.

Essex Police has revealed it will only be spending half what it expected at the beginning of the financial year on building projects because of delays in starting work.

At the beginning of the financial year, Essex Police predicted it would be spending £20 million on building work.

But this has slipped to a predicted £9.5 million, mainly because of delays starting work.

The figures were revealed at a meeting of the Essex Police Authority resource and finance committee in Chelmsford.

Phillip Onions, assistant chief officer for Essex Police, said: "Several capital projects have been affected by slippage, partly due to changes in legislation on disabled access and also changes in information technology requirements."

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

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