New police hub to give force 'more patrol time'

Durham Police said the hub near Spennymoor will have one the most advanced police custody suites in the UK

A new £26m police centre will "save several thousand hours of police time each year," a force has said.

Durham Police said the hub near Spennymoor, which will open next week, will have one of the most advanced police custody suites in the UK.

It said its 48 outdated police cells, which were criticised by inspectors in 2019, have been replaced.

Joy Allen, Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said some officers previously spent entire shifts trying to book prisoners in and the new facility would allow them more time to patrol the streets.

Durham's PCC, Joy Allen, says officers will now have more time to patrol the streets

In 2020, the force said it would close existing custody facilities in Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Durham City and Peterlee.

Ch Con Rachel Bacon said it had been difficult to deliver 21st Century crime-fighting in an out-of-date environment.

"Our old cell blocks and custody suites were completely outdated and it was difficult to detain people safely and do a modern investigation," she added.

The force's 48 outdated police cells, which were criticised by inspectors in 2019, have been replaced

Ch Con Bacon added that police officers should be out on the streets responding to the public’s calls, instead of waiting hours to book in prisoners.

The new centre has modern interview rooms, virtual courtrooms and forensic examination rooms.

Ms Allen said the site's medical unit would "save several thousand hours of police time each year" by allowing officers to spend their shifts fighting crime.

The force said it had increased neighbourhood policing to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.