Northamptonshire Police to close ‘Victorian’ cells at Campbell Square
STAFF at Campbell Square’s “Victorian” custody suit have said colleagues will one day “reminisce” about Northampton’s outdated cells, as they prepare to move to a new multi-million pound home.
The county’s new £9 million Criminal Justice Centre is set to open in June, when the gloomy old fashioned cells at Campbell Square are likely to be closed for good.
After opening the door to the cells to the Chronicle & Echo yesterday, Inspector Leonie Tromans explained the cost of maintaining the facility to stringent Home Office standards is now just too much. She said: “The biggest issue is in terms of maintaining it to Home Office standards and it actually becomes counter productive because you are putting in more money than a new block costs.”
The current custody suite, described by Northamptonshire’s chief constable as “Victorian”, is made up of 14 cells, although there are another six which can be used if the police experience an exceptionally busy night, such as New Year’s Eve. Two cells have CCTV cameras fitted inside to monitor vulnerable detainees, while three more are designated for juveniles.
Inside, the cells are glum, poorly lit and outdated. The force has had to invest considerable money, including buying new doors, to make sure they meet health and safety requirements. Interview rooms are small and equipped with old cassette recorders, while consultation rooms are impractical.
The new facility, which is being constructed in Brackmills, will include 40 cells, which will all include state-of-the-art equipment as well as purpose built interview rooms for police and solicitors to meet detainees.
Insp Tromans said the move will be good for detainees, some of whom have been kept in for up to 72 hours, as well as staff.
She added: “Going from here to the new Criminal Justice Centre for the staff is going to be amazing. Just to move to a lighter working environment will be amazing. Also, by combining the current custody suits at the new unit increases the staffing numbers, because at the moment there is no scope for people to be sick or have annual leave.”
The centre is expected to be operational by September.
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
seedee
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 05:23 PMWhen the Police have all of these wonderful new cells, will they then arrest people for being Drunk and Disorderly , instead of sending them to A&E where they cause havoc and have to be thrown out by the hard pressed Security Staff at NGH ?
Finker
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:51 PMThey look a lot better than the railways and underground does in the morning - a lot more personal space anyway.
macbeth
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:07 PMIf someone is picked up by the police for a mental health problem, even if it is from home, in the first instance they are taken to the police cells whilst they wait for the authorities to place them. This is just one of the many uses of police cells.
willi eckaslyke
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:04 AMWhat this county is in dire need of, is some victorian policing.
Tinkerbell294
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:04 AMI agree Lady Muck, if people are put in prison, they have obviously been arrested for a reason. Steven Richards, what do they normally put in Police cells then if they dont put in criminals. Do they put in little oap's out shopping? Pregnant ladies, just so they can have a sit down for 5 minutes and take the weight off their feet?!?!!? Why should the CRIMINALS have luxury cells to enjoy their time whilst being held. As for being a breach of health and safety, i doubt that robbersmurderersrapistswife beaters think about the health and safety of their victims so they!?!? Stick them in the victorian cells and leave them there!! These kind of cells should be used for the "long haul" criminals too. Prisons and Cells these days are more like a Butlins holiday camp than somewhere for them to be punished!! As a taxpayer, i disagree at having to pay my taxes to fund new cells when they are there to be punished, not to be treated like they are having a stay at the Hilton. If they cant do the time, then dont do the crime!!!!
bronfay
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:26 AMI agree!! we cant be having sub standard facilities where our public sector workers cant get in their annual fortnight sick leave
Steven Richards
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 09:49 AMPeople held in police cells are not necessarily 'criminals'. Many have never been found guilty of committing a crime by a court, others are held whilst enquiries are made and are released without charge - why should these people be held somewhere unpleasant just to please your sensibilities?
lady muck
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 08:37 AMQuite right ! Criminals don't deserve to be put in glum or gloomy cells. They have human rights.
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