THE future of Merseyside Police's headquarters is in question after a major review was launched of every station in the region.

Canning Place, in Liverpool city centre, is among the buildings to be discussed by a new working party of Merseyside Police Authority (MPA).

It will consider the location and suitability of all 65 of MPA's properties, with a view to modernising the force over the next 15 years.

Merseyside Police has made it clear there are no immediate plans to close Canning Place or any other station on Merseyside.

In fact, the force's ambition, they say, is to eventually increase the number of police stations. But the Daily Post understands there are security and safety concerns about the proximity of building work near Canning Place, including the multi-million pound Grosvenor shopping development.

The upper floors of a new multi-storey car park will overlook the large yard where many police vehicles are parked, leaving it vulnerable to attack, it is feared.

Security and safety concerns are likely to be considered during the review which follows a spate of car bombings at police stations across Liverpool last year. Cllr Lady Doreen Jones, member of the MPA, said: "I have not heard that the Merseyside Police is to move from Canning Place, but I would not be against the idea.

"I have watched the building work on the new bus station in front of the main entrance and more significantly the multi-storey car park just across the street, and I came to the conclusion that the headquarters are now in the wrong place.

"There will be security and safety issues that I believe will eventually have to be resolved by moving out.

"One of my biggest fears is that the upper floors of the multi-storey car park will overlook the large yard where many police vehicles are parked.

"We are living in an age where security has to be a consideration, and you will be able to throw a pebble from the car park into the police yard because it's so close.

"If it does have to move, I hope that a site will be found within Liverpool which seems the natural place for the main headquarters of the force."

Canning Place stands on a potentially lucrative site on Wapping, opposite the Albert Dock.

It was built in the 1980s and designed in the wake of the Toxteth riots as a modern fortress. There are no ground-floor windows at all and the main entrance is up a long flight of stairs.

It moved there from the previous headquarters which became the Merseyside Trades Union and unemployment resource centre in Hardman Street.

One possibility is that, if Merseyside Police Authority does start looking for a new site, it may follow Cheshire's lead and pull out of the city altogether.

Cheshire Constabulary moved from Chester to a new £40m Pentagon-style headquarters in Winsford in 2003.administration unit under one roof."

Cllr Bill Weightman, chairman of Merseyside Police Authority, confirmed he will chair the estates strategy working group, set up at MPA's annual general meeting last Thursday.

It will consider the future of all 65 of MPA's properties, including four stations in Knowsley, six in north Liverpool north and five in Liverpool south, seven in Sefton, four in St Helens and eight in Wirral.

The force, which has more than 4,000 officers, also has two training centres, one at Mather Avenue in Allerton and one at Lea Green in St Helens.

Cllr Weightman said: "The working group is to undertake a review of all the buildings owned by the Police Authority.

"Some of the police stations in Merseyside are in need of renovation - the last one was built some 20 years ago.

"The working party will look at the current provision of the police estate and what that should look like in 15 years' time..

"We recognise that some buildings are in the wrong place and we will look at the use and effectiveness of all our buildings and recommend whether buildings should be refurbished or relocated.

"We have to make sure the resources are where people need them but we have no intentions of closing any police stations without suitable alternatives.

"There are no plans to close Canning Place at this time and it is just one of the properties that will be under review.

"Any recommendations that the working group make will be subject to wide consultation with the Police Authority and the public."

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Murphy said: "Merseyside Police has an ambition to be the best force in Britain. Part of this ambition is to have an estate fit for purpose, of high quality and located so as to give the best possible service to the people of Merseyside.

"The current review will consider the suitability and location of all our buildings - this is about enhancing the service of Merseyside Police, not about closing police stations. In fact, our ambition is to have more police stations than we currently have. Currently, there are no specific plans to dispose of Canning Place or any other police station."

deborahjames @dailypost.co.uk