New £26m Police Facility Expected to Boost Patrol Hours for Durham Force

A new £26 million police center is projected to “save several thousand hours of police time each year,” according to the force. Durham Police stated that the hub, located near Spennymoor and set to open next week, will house one of the most advanced police custody suites in the UK. The force confirmed that its 48 outdated police cells, which faced criticism from inspectors in 2019, have been replaced. Joy Allen, Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), highlighted that some officers previously spent entire shifts attempting to book prisoners, and the new facility would afford them more time for street patrols. In 2020, the force had announced its intention to close existing custody facilities in Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Durham City, and Peterlee. Chief Constable Rachel Bacon remarked on the difficulty of delivering 21st-century crime-fighting within an outdated environment. She added, “Our old cell blocks and custody suites were completely outdated and it was difficult to detain people safely and do a modern investigation.” Chief Constable Bacon further stated that police officers should be present on the streets, responding to public calls, rather than spending hours waiting to process prisoners. The new center is equipped with modern interview rooms, virtual courtrooms, and forensic examination rooms. Ms. Allen reiterated that the site’s medical unit is anticipated to “save several thousand hours of police time each year” by allowing officers to dedicate their shifts to combating crime. The force also reported an increase in neighbourhood policing efforts to address anti-social behaviour in the area. For updates, follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.