In 1938, Leicester Corporation was very proud of its recently-built police and fire stations and in the Official Guide to the City of Leicester, published that year, this is what was said about them.

"The strength of the City Police Force is 306. The headquarters in Charles Street, completed in 1933, contains some very up-to-date fixtures and fittings.

"The headquarters acts as the nerve centre to 54 police boxes and telephone pillars placed at strategic points in the city, and any call from them immediately produces help by means of police motor vehicles, some of which are fitted with wireless receivers.

"A garage annexe was recently been built in Colton Street. On its first floor there is a well-equipped gymnasium.

"The grave dangers of fire have always received particular attention in Leicester, where the industries are largely of an inflammable nature. The Fire Brigade is housed in the finest building of its type in the country, and one of the most modern in practice in the world.

"Its site was carefully selected to be central to all danger zones of the city and yet to be in such surroundings as would offer some compensation to the firemen for being tied to the station all hours of the day and night.

"Each fireman has his own house in immediate communication with the call office of the station, and has a large garden in which to find recreation. The whole colony is most attractively laid out and has the appearance of a miniature garden city.

"The equipment of the fire station includes one motor tender, six motor pumps, one trailer pump, one 'Fire Snow' trailer, two motor driven turn table escapes with water towers, and six ambulance vans. There is a sub-station at North Evington and others are planned to keep up with the growth of industrial Leicester."

Today, these buildings look as good as ever. The Fire Station, which has undergone a recent award-winning renovation, still serves its original purpose and the police station is now the imposing façade for state of-the-art offices at the Colton Square development.