The county’s first combined police and fire station is set to open in Northamptonshire on Friday.
The new joint station will open at Thrapston Fire Station, in the town’s High Street, and is another development in the continuing collaboration between Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue.
The move comes after Police & Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds spoke openly about a potential “blue light merger” earlier this year.
Fire bosses in the county have already moved into Wootton Hall, the county’s police headquarters, and the forces are both keen on further collaboration in the future.
When the proposed “merger” was announced the idea drew criticisms from the Police Federation, politicians at Northamptonshire County Council and Tory MPs, included Northampton South MP Brian Binley, who claimed PCC Simmonds was “trying to take over the world”.
On Friday, Chief Fire Officer Martyn Emberson and Chief Constable Adrian Lee will unveil a plaque by Crew Manager Bob Johnson and Sergeant Andy Maher to mark the occasion.