Nottinghamshire Police's new custody suite on Radford Road processes its very first detainees
The very first detainees of Nottinghamshire Police's new custody suite arrived this morning (Wednesday).
The 50-cell facility on Radford Road, Nottingham, opened at 7am and soon processed its first prisoners.
The building, which has been under construction since March last year, replaces the force’s old custody suite at the Bridewell on Canal Street, Nottingham — a building that was deemed no longer fit for purpose.
Anyone arrested in the city or the south of the county will now be transported to the new facility, where they will be detained, interviewed and investigated before being released or remanded into custody.
The force has worked closely with experienced custody officers to design out many common problems and flash-points, and to ensure the needs of vulnerable detainees are properly catered for.
As a result, young people, people with autism or disabilities and those experiencing episodes of mental ill-heath will be processed in a special vulnerable wing.
The building also includes interview rooms, consultation booths and state-of-the-art office facilities for staff.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper, who led the project, said: "This new custody suite represents a major new investment in the wellbeing of staff and detainees. It is also an investment in the wider judicial process and underscores our enduring commitment to getting justice for victims of crime.
“The custody process is an absolutely vital first step in the wider justice process and it absolutely vital that we get this process right.
“I am delighted that we now have one of the finest facilities anywhere in the country and would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work, ideas and leadership in delivering this project.
“We have had a busy first day at the site but, thanks to the weeks of hard work that has gone into training and familiarising staff with the building, things have run very smoothly indeed.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “I am delighted the new custody suite has been designed with the safety of police officers and staff in mind. The design of the building also means defendants can be processed quicker, saving both time and money for the force.
“I want to thank Inspector Duncan Collins for his tireless work project managing the site through to completion and during the pandemic. Despite the challenges posed by the lockdowns, we have been able to complete the custody suite in budget and within the planned time-scale, meaning we have now been able to process the first detainees at the site.”
