Torquay police custody saved

'This is fantastic news!'

Campaigners who fought to save Torquay police station’s busy custody suite have been celebrating news that it has been reprieved.

Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that the custody centre attached to the police station in South Street will remain open ‘for the foreseeable future’. So will five other similar centres across the two counties.

Local Liberal Democrat MPs Steve Darling and Caroline Voaden said the news was ‘fantastic’, and paid tribute to local people who highlighted the problems closing the Torquay centre could cause.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said last year that he had commissioned a review of the force’s custody ‘estate’, which includes facilities in Torquay, Exeter, Barnstaple, Plymouth, Camborne and Newquay.

He said the review would include the potential ‘pilot’ closure of Torquay’s custody suite and the temporary redeployment of staff.

“It is vital that we improve the capacity, resilience and operating environment of our custody estate,” he said at the time. “Our current provision presents challenges creating welfare, health and safety risks for detainees and staff. Operating costs exceed budgets, and further costly improvements are needed to bring some custody suites up to safety compliance.”

However, local politicians warned that ‘stripping out’ the service would mean people who had been arrested would be processed at custody suites in Exeter or Plymouth instead, meaning vital police time would be spent transporting prisoners.

In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thorne confirmed Torquay’s reprieve.

He said: “It has now been agreed that no custody centre, including Torquay, will close for the foreseeable future.

“A full programme of work will take place to look at how we can transform the way our six custody centres are provided to ensure consistency, strengthen detainee safety and control costs.”

Mrs Voaden said: “This is fantastic news! I am thrilled that Devon and Cornwall Police has decided not to close the custody suite at Torquay, citing, among other things, concerns I and others raised.

“So many people contacted me about this issue, and I know they will be as delighted as I am at this outcome. I look forward to working with Devon and Cornwall Police going forward about how to maximise existing custody services in the area.”

And Mr Darling told social media followers: “I am absolutely delighted.

“I would like to thank all the many people who have been in touch. Thanks for all your help and advice on this. The authorities have walked away from closing the custody suite.”