ONE of Hull's historic buildings could be sold to fund CCTV systems and security measures.
New police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove has put the Pacific Exchange building in Hull's High Street on the market with a guide price of £450,000.
The moves comes after Mr Grove launched a search to appoint a successor to Chief Constable Tim Hollis, who is due to retire next year.
Originally built as a trading centre for the city's grain merchants at the end of the 19th century, Pacific Exchange was previously the headquarters of the former Humberside police authority.
The new commissioner pledged to sell it during his recent election campaign, using the proceeds from any sale to support a new crime prevention fund.
He said: "One of the pledges I made in my manifesto was to sell off this building and relocate my office and staff to somewhere more modest and look to possibly share premises with other organisations.
"I want to ensure my office is more accessible to people on both the North and South bank."
There has been speculation the commissioner might relocate his ten-strong secretariat to offices close to the Humber Bridge.
However, finding a buyer for the grade two-listed building will be a challenge in what is currently a flat property market.
The Exchange offices also have the advantage of being linked to the Police National Computer.
They boast a ground-floor meeting room, upper floor offices and car parking spaces to the rear of the property.
Mr Grove said his proposed crime prevention fund would be used to match fund-suitable capital projects brought forward by community groups such as parish and town councils, Neighbourhood Watch groups or community safety partnerships.
He said: "The benefits of this fund could include CCTV cameras, vehicle-activated safety signs, gates and youth shelters.
"I aim to continue the excellent work that has been started by community groups and local authorities, including the fire service, to divert those committing crime into activities.
"This will be a positive to them and to our communities."
However, former police authority chairman Councillor Colin Inglis said he was sceptical over the decision to put Pacific Exchange up for sale.
He said: "It is up to Mr Grove to do what he thinks best but the building is perfectly suitable for its purpose."
