Merseyside Police have initiated a search for the construction team responsible for building St Anne Street Station over five decades ago. This development comes as the historic station reopens its doors to the public following a comprehensive refurbishment. The officers are actively seeking individuals who worked for Cubitts, including those known by their nicknames ‘Swooper,’ ‘Smiler,’ and the ‘Boss,’ believing they may possess critical information regarding the original site’s development.

The search was prompted by the discovery of a time capsule during the refurbishment project. Hidden within the structure of the building, the capsule contained a confession note from the construction team, alluding to a “crime” committed during the station’s construction. The time capsule also included a newspaper dated Friday, October 29, 1971, which coincided with the day British MPs voted in favor of joining the European Union with a majority of 112.

To celebrate the station’s rich history, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Emily Spurrell, and Chief Constable Serena Kennedy will be joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, for the official reopening ceremony of the building.

The event will feature officers and staff who were stationed at St Anne Street when it first opened its doors in 1972. The dignitaries will be warmly welcomed by members of Merseyside’s Mounted section. Following this, the keys to the station will be handed over to the PCC and Chief Constable, and the Lord Lieutenant will declare the building officially open, marking the beginning of its renewed operation.

The extensive refurbishment, which commenced in April 2021, encompassed a complete overhaul of the station, including the addition of a new floor. The resulting five-storey building now boasts open-plan working spaces, modern AV equipment in each meeting room, and has the capacity to accommodate 450 officers and staff from various departments, such as Local Policing, Protecting Vulnerable People, Investigations, Fingerprints, and the Economic Crime Team.

St Anne Street now features a façade reminiscent of Merseyside Police’s new headquarters, Rose Hill, creating a unified architectural style across the site. The renovation project also significantly improved energy efficiency through the incorporation of a new insulated cladding system, LED lighting, electric car charging points, and solar panels, aligning with Merseyside Police’s commitment to sustainability.

The extensive refurbishment aligns with the PCC’s Estate Strategy, which seeks to modernize and upgrade Merseyside Police’s stations and facilities over a 12-year period. This strategy ensures that officers and staff are well-equipped with state-of-the-art resources to effectively serve their communities.

With the completion of the St Anne Street refurbishment, the PCC and Chief Constable can now vacate Merseyside’s former police headquarters in Canning Place and Smithdown Lane Station, both of which served as temporary accommodations during the refurbishment.

Emily Spurrell, Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, expressed her astonishment at the discovery of the time capsule, which provides a unique glimpse into the station’s history. She emphasized the importance of modernizing police facilities to ensure effective crime-fighting capabilities for the future.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy echoed Spurrell’s sentiment, underlining the significance of having modern, accessible, and cost-effective police stations that support staff and officers in delivering the highest level of service to the public.

Funding for the refurbishment was secured through specific capital allocations for the Force’s buildings, in addition to approved borrowing sources in line with the Prudential Code for capital finance. These funds are entirely separate from those allocated for operational policing and will be redirected to frontline policing to maximize cost savings.

In line with the PCC and Chief Constable’s commitment to social value, nearly 50% of the workforce and resources involved in the refurbishment were locally sourced from Merseyside. The project also resulted in the creation of nine new jobs and offered four apprenticeships, totaling over 330 apprentice weeks on site.

Louise Daville, Director of Public Sector Strategy at ISG, the principal contractors for the site, expressed pride in being part of the station’s transformation and in contributing to a valuable legacy in the community through social value efforts, apprenticeships, and job creation.