New Campbeltown police station

[bill]

gee whiz... that is a BIG polis station. Surely not that many bad fellas in Campbeltown.

And when did they start that work? seems to have sprung up almost overnight.

It's not just the baddies in the town 4thG but all the cowboys frae Suthen as weel.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Thanks JD for posting the photos - you beat me to it. Mine were taken at the weekend when it was miserable anyway



Title
Campbeltown Police Station

Description
New build Police Station on Brownfield site in the centre of Campbeltown. Built over two floors with extensive new offices, workshops and interview facilities and substantial detention centre with separate male, female and high risk cells.
Client Strathclyde Police

Total Contract Value
£6,000,000

The building is a very highly serviced building with a very heavy emphasis on security of supply to essential systems and physical and electronic security of the detention area and prisoner exercise area. The building will remain fully functional even with a power outage up to 7 days due to generator and back up oil supply. Other systems include lighting control system, emergency lighting and auto-test system, category L1 fire alarms, extensive Cat6 structural cabling system, CCTV, intruder, cell affray and intercom, full air conditioning to cell areas, heating installation, fully automatic smoke damper control system, solar system, rainwater harvesting and ancillary systems.

Found this article on the Strathclyde Police Website

Police in Campbeltown break new ground

On Monday 16 June 2008, work got underway on the construction of a new police office for Campbeltown.

The site identified for the new building is within Hazelburn Business Park, north west of the town centre, on a brown field development site and on the main road into Campbeltown.

This new up-to-date building will replace the existing and outdated Victorian police office in Castlehill and will address the needs of the modern day police force.

The new building will have a contemporary appearance and will house new administration, operational and custodial facilities, reflective of the policing requirements of today’s society.

The new police office will also seek to achieve good energy efficiency and integrate sustainable facilities at both construction and maintenance stages of its working life.

The new office will address the needs of a 21st century police force, not only in policing but in interacting with the community and providing an accessible and user friendly service.

Work is expected to take approximately 13 months to complete at a cost of five and a half million pounds (£5,5000,000) and is expected to be operational by August 2009.

Better facilities for public and staff

Chief Inspector Boyter said: “This will mean better facilities for the public and the staff who work there. There will be significant improvements to the public reception and custody areas. The facility will provide suitable vehicle access, parking and high visibility signage. Overall the new office will be an asset and I am sure it will be a major improvement to our current facilities. I thank all those, past and present, who have been involved in making the process happen.”

Helping local police respond effectively and efficiently

Convener of Strathclyde’s Joint Police Board, Councillor Paul Rooney, will join local Chief Inspector Kenneth Boyter to mark the auspicious occasion. He said:

“It is a pleasure to be in Campbeltown to launch the start of construction work for this superb new police station. Strathclyde Police has an excellent reputation but it is the role of Strathclyde Joint Police Board to ensure our officers are properly equipped and have access to good facilities. The new station will be a first class facility that will support local police to identify and respond more effectively and efficiently to the needs of the local communities in and around Campbeltown.”

[Kevin Mc]

Can't work out the orientation on this pic:



Is this pic looking down Broad Street or Lady Mary Row? Can't quite suss it with the position of Tesco's and Beinn Ghuilean. Or am I totally wrong either way

[rainbowsprite]

I think it has been taken from the Mill Street end of Lady Mary Row.

[Martin]

Bloody hell, that's big for Campbeltown. Are they planning on holding other people there, perhaps somewhere a wee bit out of the way for certain prisoners or suspects ? Hmmmmm, I wonder about the reasons behind that, but then I'm just an untrusting old sod.

[History]

The station that is being used at the moment is a Victorian listed building and far too small for the pupose it was intended. The access is dangerous and there is not enough room for parking.

When you consider that there are drug squad officers, traffic police, officers dealing with crimes of a sexual nature, serious crimes including abuse and domestic violence all needing to handled in a uncluttered environment and shared space with other issues going on. Some of these crimes are dealt with by specialist teams. So why should they not need space and private amenities to get on with their work, especially in dealing with child victims of abuse. Not everyone who has to be there is a thief or a drunk driver.

Add to that there are Clerical staff, Offices for Inspectors and sergeants, male and female toilets and shower facilities, canteen, Interview rooms, lost and found, storage, locker rooms.

Oops better not forget to add there will hopefully be room for cells to lock up the galoots and last but not least, that nice wee wummin the traffic warden. She is entitled to her wee space as well.

I wonder if they will be having an open day

perhaps somewhere a wee bit out of the way for certain prisoners or suspects ?

Can't see us needing to import any idiots. Would like to export some right enough.

[History]

I think it has been taken from the Mill Street end of Lady Mary Row.

It's taken from the Mill Road end of Lady Mary Row with the derelict site of Parliament on your left.

[howlsatthemoon]

History, I understand what you are saying but I still think that for a small town like Campbeltown, population just over 5000, the size and cost is way over the top.

[History]

Howls you may be right in thinking it is a bit large and in my post I am only speculating as to the different departments that are needed but when you think how long the present station has been in use I would have thought that it was long past time that it be replaced so why not get a good sized one while the place is being built anyway.

Wouldn't mind a gander round if there is an open day. Be interesting to see how it will be utilised.

Looking at the photo's it's going to be almost as ugly as the swimming pool but at least the new station is more inland and not so much in your face.

[DOUBLE A]

The station that is being used at the moment is a Victorian listed building and far too small for the pupose it was intended. The access is dangerous and there is not enough room for parking.

When you consider that there are drug squad officers, traffic police, officers dealing with crimes of a sexual nature, serious crimes including abuse and domestic violence all needing to handled in a uncluttered environment and shared space with other issues going on. Some of these crimes are dealt with by specialist teams. So why should they not need space and private amenities to get on with their work, especially in dealing with child victims of abuse. Not everyone who has to be there is a thief or a drunk driver.

Add to that there are Clerical staff, Offices for Inspectors and sergeants, male and female toilets and shower facilities, canteen, Interview rooms, lost and found, storage, locker rooms.

Oops better not forget to add there will hopefully be room for cells to lock up the galoots

Does look a pretty big office, but as History has said their are a good few departments based in the town and each would take up it's own office space , and with various Health and safety recommendations for new buildings would all have to be taken into account, disabled access being a main one, would also need male and female cells and would think a sepearte medical suite for various examinations,probably be an enclosed gated yard for prisoners to be brought in and out.

The old office is still a Legalised Police office which basically means it can hold convicted prisoners before being taken to prison but due to prisoner custody transfer now in the hands of Reliance had a check and seen that on the last review it would appear that the legalised cells are no longer really required so not sure if this is something that will be needed at the new cop shop

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justi ... 17208/7798

[History]

Double A I learned that the Reliance van is not necessarily down to take a prisoner away for a wee holiday but sometimes it's to take someone from the cells over to the court, a distance of roughly 100 metres.

Could they not have a van stationed in the town to do that task instead of taking one all the way down here to transfer a prisoner on such a short journey? Would it have to be a Reliance employee who drove it?

Maybe a job opportunity for someone local

[Jock Strap]

History, I understand what you are saying but I still think that for a small town like Campbeltown, population just over 5000, the size and cost is way over the top.

I think you will find they provides services to further a field than Kintyre. Quite sure they even cover Islay for certain duties?? Does look like a big building but for a change why shouldn't we have the best?

[maxmix]

Looks more like a smaller version of Strangeways.....

Another waste of taxpayers cash.....

maxmix

[jdcarra]

Looks more like a smaller version of Strangeways.....

Another waste of taxpayers cash.....

maxmix

Don't knock it until you have seen the finished product maxmix and one or two others, you could do a bit of law breaking in the future and try out the new facilities .
I agree with History, the building will not only cover Campbeltown, but Kintyre and the Islands in general. Having been through the old station on occasions (not as a jailbird) the building is outdated with small rooms, corriders and does not have proper modern day facilities as described by one other member.
The new building may look big but a good part of it is garage and workshop repair facilities for police vehicles. They may have a open day, I would wait until then to see the finished product and voice your opinions if it was a money waster or not.
We may see a rise in recruitments by then .

[Buzz Lightyear]

I also believe there is to be rooms in the new station for a Ports unit should we ever need it when/if the ferry ever starts again. Also rooms for the local cops to do their on going training requirements which is currently done using other facilities around the area, so in doing so will keep it in house as it were, and also not to mention that the facility must be explosion proof to meet current requirements and also the cells to meet current european standards, that'll be PS3's and nintendo WII's in them as well then