Police chief says it will ‘fast-track’ interviews

KEYNSHAM residents and businesses have been having their say on a new police centre for detaining and interviewing suspects.

They were able to study the plans at the Drill Hall on Ashmead Road yesterday and ask questions about what the proposed new facility will involve.

As part of Avon and Somerset police’s Building for the Future programme, the custody suite would be built on the site of Swanglen Furniture Ltd in Ashmead industrial estate, off the A4 Bath Road on the Saltford side of the town.

It would contain 48 cells, plus investigation offices and interview rooms.

It is hoped by having a dedicated custody and investigation centre serving Keynsham, Bath and parts of Bristol over the next 30 years, it would allow officers to process detainees faster and more effectively.

It will be a 24-hour facility, helping to replace the cells currently used in ten stations across the force area.

But police have stressed that prisoners who are released will be monitored to ensure they find their way home promptly and safely.

Chief Inspector John Holt said: “The main advantages are economies of scale.

“When prisoners come in we will have specialist investigation teams to process them and interview them. It will be like a production line – much quicker and a lot more efficient.

“This allows our operational officers to be operational on the beat more of the time.”

The approach has already been tried, with success, by forces including Sussex, Dorset and Wiltshire Police.

Superintendent for Operations in Bath and North East Somerset Geoff Spicer added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to get police officers back where we want them – on the street, as soon as possible after making an arrest.”

The outline planning application that will be submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council in September will not affect the status of Keynsham police station, which will continue to be used.

The new centre is part of a much wider accommodation programme, which will mainly use government funding.

As previously reported, a new police station and 48-cell custody suite is planned in Patchway, off Gloucester Road North.

That is going through the South Gloucestershire Council planning process.

A third new custody suite is earmarked for Bridgwater.

A detailed planning application for the Keynsham suite will be submitted in February 2012 and if all goes to plan, it is anticipated the new buildings will open in 2014.

Any queries about the plans should be sent to ABC, Consultation Co-ordinator, 5 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol. BS4 2BY, email