Six new police stations planned in £200m overhaul

At least six new stations are planned as part of a £200m (€287m) overhaul of Northern Ireland police buildings, it was confirmed today.

Nearly half of the current bases will also be reviewed and could eventually be shut down during the five-year estate strategy.

Deputy chief constable Paul Leighton pledged to consult the public before any final decision on closures.

He said: “The strategy is part of our continuing drive to use all of our resources, whether that means officers, staff, equipment and buildings, in the most effective and efficient way.

“We believe that by doing this we can provide the best possible policing service to local communities and achieve our objective of working together to make Northern Ireland a safer place for everyone.”

Heavy fortification that surrounds many existing complexes would be removed if the blueprint, which was presented to Northern Ireland Policing Board members, goes ahead.

With the Patten proposals for reforming the force calling for less forbidding buildings, major refurbishment would be carried out at a number of bases.

Brand new stations have been earmarked for Ballymoney, Cookstown, Craigavon, Downpatrick, Omagh and Musgrave Street in Central Belfast.

Mr Leighton accepted that closures were inevitable as police chiefs try to get more officers on street patrols.

Out of a total 135 police stations, 61 have been put on the strategy’s review list – 51 from the PSNI’s Rural Region and 10 from Urban Region.

With 71 of those bases operating limited opening hours, seven classed as lock-and-leave units, 54 more than 50 years old and 13 built over a century ago, significant reductions are expected.

District commanders will consult with communities to guarantee effective services in areas where recommendations for closure are made, Mr Leighton told the Board’s Finance and General Purposes Committee.

As well as financial pressures from a reducing annual budget, police chiefs devising the strategy were influenced by a current estate size which is disproportionately bigger than comparable services or populations in England and Wales.

Mr Leighton added: “The estate strategy is an important document. It will help us develop an estate which is fit for purpose.

“I believe it offers a framework to continue to engage with the community on how to provide them with the best possible policing service possible.”