New police cells and office could be in Sutterton
A TWO-storey police office and 30-cell custody suite could be built at Sutterton – or on another site between Spalding and Boston – by the world’s largest security company, G4S.
Lincolnshire Police Authority struck a deal with the company that will see its employees take over some jobs handled by police officers.
The outsourcing contract is worth £200million over ten years and it emerged this week that a new ‘police station’ is part of the deal and its construction and staffing will be a nationwide-first for an outside contractor.
Lincolnshire Police Authority refuses to reveal potential sites, but someone closely connected with police matters – who asked not to be named – this week told the Spalding Guardian that the police office and cells are likely to be built at Sutterton or on a site between Spalding and Boston.
The source told us: “It’s down to G4S. They will do what they think commercially is better for them. It’s likely to serve more than one police station.”
Police authority chairman Coun Barry Young said: “Because of commercial sensitivity, we cannot comment until the formal contract with G4S – of which this is only one aspect – has been signed.
“Once a potential site has been identified, a planning application will be made to the relevant district authority. It will be for local planning officers to assess the application to ensure that it complies with national, county and local planning requirements and policies.
“They will also take into account representations made by technical consultees, such as the highways authority and the environment agency, and by the general public.”
Coun Young said Lincolnshire has four “designated” custody suites providing a total of 61 cells with “standby” custody suites offering a further 26.
No firm decisions have been made on whether some existing cells will close once the new complex opens.
The new cells will be built on a “hub and spokes” model so more cells can be added when needed.
Former Lincolnshire Police Authority member Coun Phil Dilks criticised the authority for not naming potential sites when the £200million is coming from the public’s pockets.
He said: “Surely the public who are paying for it have a right to know?”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
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janec1951
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 04:13 PMQuite right fenlander. What a waste of money Spalding police station is. What you suggest is too obvious though. Since when has sense & reason come into anything in this town. May as well move everything to Boston & then they could build something useful on the site such as a food heritage centre or another supermarket.
Spalding Jerry
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:09 PMSince this is all public money the police authority should be releasing more information. I have no doubt that a private company can do things more cost effectively than a public service but the police need to make clear what checks and balances are going to be put in place.
fenlander
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:46 AMLet me get this right then, Spalding have bought the adjacent pub to extend the premises and then then closed their own cells (only temporary of course!!) having to use Boston's. This has put too much pressure on them so the answer is to build a new facility in between the two of them. Wouldn't the sensible answer be to reopen Spalding, even extend it into the building they've already bought?
CampaigningForSpalding
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:28 PMAh, good good. A big police station to hold more of those naughty politically incorrect menaces. Trouble is, when the cells are full with perpetrators of thought crimes, where will the real criminals go?
Gooner5271
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:24 PM@ 1 - Well, actually if they do build one at Sutterton then it will be slightly better because a prisoner from Crowland has to go to Boston nick now since they closed Spalding custody. Still, not ideal I agree.
bertie65
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 03:53 PMyou should no by now mr angry if a copper arrests someone he spends the rest of his shift filling out paperwork for the offence in question
Mr Angry of Tonbridge
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:21 PMIf something is commercially better for G4S, does that mean it will benefit taxpayers too? And, if it is commercially better for G4S, will it be as good as the present system? If a suspect is arrested in Crowland, how far is the round trip for the police officer going to be, which leads on the the question of how long before the officer is back on patrol?
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