£17m custody suite to open this summer
THE first set of prisoners are expected to arrive this summer as work progresses on a new police custody suite in Nottingham.
The purpose-built facility, off Radford Road, is set to replace the current Bridlewell custody suite when it opens later this year.
The Bridlewell site, which opened in the mid 90s, was originally built as a prison block and was not designed for use as a full-time custody suite.
Nottinghamshire Police have said in the past that it could not bring the facilities “up to a modern standard”, causing significant challenges in holding prisoners.
It led to the announcement of the new custody suite in 2019, with construction starting on the facilities at the start of the pandemic last year.
Once complete, the site will feature a modern, ground floor “prisoner processing area” with individual cells and interview rooms.
These will meet the needs of “every individual prisoner”, including those who are deaf, disabled or living with autism, as well as ensuring the “orderly and humane” actions of the justice system.
The building will also contain office space for the force’s prisoner handling team.
Superintendent Paul Winter, of Nottinghamshire Police, has been leading on the project.
He said: “Considering that we started the build phase of this project right at the start of the pandemic, work has been progressing really well on site.
“We are now water tight and various trades – including electricians, plumbers and plasterers – are currently on site and making excellent progress.
“This has been possible because our contractor Wilmott Dixon and their multiple sub-contractors have put in place comprehensive measures to create a Covid-secure working environment that has been routinely inspected. This has resulted in a safe place for people to work in what are extremely difficult times.
“This really will be one of the best facilities in the country and we are really proud of the extensive work that has gone in to ensure that the needs of all potential prisoners are met.
“Ultimately this building is not about locking people up – it is about the orderly and humane administration of the justice process.
“We realise that being arrested can be a very frightening experience for people and have done all we can to ensure this first step in the judicial process runs as smoothly as possible.”
When the scheme was first announced in 2019, the new custody suite was expected to cost around £17 million.