Police investigations centre to open this year

A police investigations centre is due to finally open this year after several delays and questions over its cost.

Durham Constabulary's new hub at Thinford, Spennymoor, will house all the county's custody suites, alongside forensic and investigative facilities.

Custody cells at Bishop Auckland, Darlington and Durham City will close when the new facility opens, after government inspectors highlighted the poor physical conditions in some sites.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen, who has received the keys to the new building, said: "These advanced facilities will have a far-reaching impact on our ability to effectively investigate crime and secure justice for victims of crime."

"They will also greatly improve the safety of detainees and over the longer term deliver operational efficiencies to be reinvested in frontline policing," she added.

The new police hub, which was due to open in spring 2023, will provide 48 custody cells, office space, interview rooms, and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) provision, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It also houses evidence stores, virtual courts, CCTV, an energy centre, medical facilities and forensic examination rooms.

Peterlee’s custody suite will be retained as a contingency measure.

Labour's Ms Allen said the project had remained on budget despite the delays.

However, rival Conservative colleagues have repeatedly questioned the need for the building.

Robert Potts, who stood as a candidate at this year’s PCC election, described it as a "white elephant".

"We’re closing things down in our areas, which means that people from every part of the county will have to travel to Spennymoor, and we will lose officers from our communities," he said.

"People are not after a massive new unit in Spennymoor, they want police to deal with what’s being phoned in."

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