Cambridgeshire Constabulary shared a bittersweet throwback by posting a picture from almost a century ago.
In the photo, PCs Baldwin, Elder, Bloomfield and Lane, Sgt Pearce and Insp Lilley can be seen commemorating the opening of Chatteris Police Station in 1919.
In 2014, however, the station was leased to the Police Firearms Officers Association, which provides counselling and support to firearms officers and their families.
The garages and dog kennel area were converted into The Police Firearms History Museum, which welcomes school visits.
One office is used for counselling and physiotherapy to help officers in their recovery and return to work.
Since then, the enquiries office has closed and residents now have to attend ‘drop-in sessions’ at Aldi and Budgens if they have any concerns.
Chatteris Town Councillor Florence Newell, who opposed the museum proposal two years ago, said: “I think it’s ridiculous.
“The town council wasn’t very happy about it at the time, and in my opinion Chatteris isn’t policed enough anyway.
“By the time police have been called, the offender is often long gone.
“We don’t see many police officers in Chatteris and a lot of elderly people now don’t have anywhere else to go if they have a real problem.”
Under the Police Act 1964 and local government reform in 1974, the Isle of Ely Constabulary became part of Cambridgeshire Constabulary and a small police station was situated in East Park Street.
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