Proposals for the development of a custody centre for custody command at Wandsworth High Street

Report: 05
Date: 21 October 2010
By: Assistant Commissioner Territorial Policing and the Director of Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

The need to provide further custody provision throughout the MPA estate to support MPS operations was approved in 2006. Funding has been included within the approved Programme Budget in the current 7 year Capital Programme. This report requests authorisation to proceed with the development of a 30 cell custody centre on the site at Wandsworth High Street, Wandsworth, to support operational needs.

A. Recommendations

Members approve the following:

1. The development of a 30 Cell Custody Centre at Wandsworth High Street in support of operational needs;
2. A Capital project budget allocation of up to £16.715m from the approved overall programme budget;
3. That the Construction Contract will be procured through the Improvement and Efficiency South East (IESE), formerly South East Centre of Excellence (SECE) framework as approved by MPA Finance Committee in November 2007, and
4. Delegate authority to MPS through the approved scheme of delegation to approve the letting of contracts, within the approved project budget allocation

B. Supporting information

1. The TP Development Programme proposes to rationalise Custody Centres into 27 large 24/7 facilities and 5 overflow centres capable of delivering the custody function for London. Responsibility for managing custody facilities will be transferred to the newly established Custody Command. These arrangements will deliver:

• A reduction in the number of custody suites by increasing overall MPS cell throughput. This will be achieved through improved cell management and more efficient internal processes.
•  A reduction in custody training costs. This will be achieved by delivering training only to the smaller number of permanent custody staff that require these skills.
•  A reduction in the overall number of staff required to deliver custody. Achieved by increasing the size of custody centre’s and through increased efficiency achieved by dedicated custody staff becoming expert in their role.

2. The quality of accommodation within the BOCU estate has been widely reported, as has the inefficiency of locationally dispersed cell provision.

3. With continuing operational pressures, the need to meet Government targets and to tackle crime effectively, property solutions are required to address operational policing and Corporate Real Estate (CRE) needs. Custody provision and the use of custody facilities is one element of this.

4. A detailed custody ‘Business Case’ report was presented to the MPS Investment Board and agreed, subject to relevant MPA approvals, in February 2006. This report highlighted the need to address custody provision on a short, medium and long-term basis. The need for a new model of building provision for custody and criminal justice is accepted, but a major concentration of cells is not practicable as there is an issue of dis-economy of scale in terms of buildings and staffing. There is a need to achieve best value and best management of available facilities - at the same time.

5. The longer term solution which was approved was the provision of Borough Based Custody Centres (BBCC) of appropriate size through a combination of the continued use of current fit for purpose suites, extending suitable facilities or the provision of new builds as required. It was anticipated that there will be a total of 33 centres of 30 cells each, with the number of cells flexed to meet operational demands. The TP Development Programme for Custody Centres now proposes 27 large 24/7 facilities and 5 overflow centres.

6. Wandsworth Borough currently has 21 operational and 5 overspill cells over three sites which is inherently inefficient and cost prohibitive in terms of staffing and travel times. The average yearly arrest for over the past three years is 8318, and the average cell occupancy rate in 2008 of 10.16 hours (latest available data). This does not account for the increased number of bails and re-bails that have occurred as a result of statutory charging, which increases these figures by around 30%. This further increases cell occupancy time and increases the demand for more cell capacity. Wandsworth BOCU are only able to staff two of their three custody sites (Wandsworth and Battersea) due to staff availability; Tooting being used only as overspill.

7. Wandsworth officers regularly have to take detainees to custody suites on other BOCUs due to their lack of cell availability.

8. A recent inspection by the Operation Herald Team described the condition of both suites as poor, highlighting the need for major renovation work. During the 2009/10 £32k was spent on these suites in essential maintenance. It is estimated that in access of £300k would be required to repair the existing facilities. However, the accommodation would still not comply with current custody standards.

9. Providing a single 30 cell site will ensure that detainees can be dealt with at a single facility, thus making substantial efficiencies for the MPS in officer transport costs. In addition, surrounding BOCUs will be able to make use of the facility.

10. The existing Wandsworth Police Station (PS) and Section House (now used for other accommodation) site is situated in a suitable location in the town centre and is currently under utilised. It has good road links with access to the A3, A205, A218, A217 and A214, all within easy reach. Putney, Wandsworth and Battersea Bridges are all close by giving ease of access to North London. The area is poorly served by the tube network, but Wandsworth Town BR station, with direct links to London Waterloo is a 10 minute walk away.

11. An Operational Suitability Assessment for the site was carried out by the Wandsworth Command Team. This shows overwhelming support for this project from both staff and partners.

12. The existing Wandsworth PS site includes a stabling facility for the Mounted Branch. This accommodation is in poor overall condition and would require investment to modernise facilities to current standards. The condition of the boundary wall to the rear of the accommodation is very poor and shows evidence of structural movement, this requires attention in order to make safe. The overall Project Budget includes for internal and external refurbishment to make best use of the space for operational efficiencies. The Mounted Branch will potentially be relocated or co-located with other facilities away from this site. The final location is currently under discussion with Central Operations - Mounted Branch and a further paper will be brought before the committee for a decision once agreement on the proposal is reached within the MPS. .

13. The proposal to develop a new custody facility at Wandsworth will realize the potential of the site and in support of CRE principles, will maximise use of resources.

C. Other organisational & community implications

Equality and Diversity Impact

1. An Equalities Impact assessment has been initiated by the BOCU with input from Property Services, Procurement Services and DoI.

2. The new facilities will be compliant to part M of the building regulations, including the implementation of “Inclusive Design” principles, which will consider the ease of access to, and circulation within the building, together with requirements for facilities for disabled people.

Consideration of MET Forward

3. The new facility will consider all implications for the delivery of Met Forward and will deliver on the key outcomes to help fight crime and reduce criminality, increase confidence in policing and give us better value for money.

Financial Implications

4. In July 2010 the Finance & Resources committee approved a revised Programme Level Capital Budget covering the period from 2009 to 2015 of £126.730m for the Custody Centre and Patrol Base Programme.

5. Individual Projects approved against this budget so far include Waltham Forest BBCC (£13.600m), Barking & Dagenham Combined BBCC and Patrol Base (£17.760m) and Croydon BBCC (£18.116m) totaling £49.476m.

6. The anticipated total budget for this project is £16.715m.

7. The anticipated expenditure profile for the proposed project budget is shown below in Table 1.

8. The Revenue implications of this project for PSD have been factored into medium term financial plans (MTFP) and we can confirm that the revenue costs associated with this project will be managed with existing budgetary lines. The impact on DoI will be an additional requirement for £200k a year which will be included in future MTFP planning by DoI offset against savings made from building closures.

Legal Implications

9. The approvals sought within the recommendations set out in Section A of this report are within the powers of the Finance and Resources sub- Committee/Resources Committee. This report is submitted to the MPS Governance Board as part of the governance process and no legal issues arise.

10. The intention in Recommendation No. 4 is to request the MPA Finance and Resources sub-Committee/Resources Committee to approve that the Contracts Board has the authority to let a contract up to £16.715m [Approved Capital Project Budget] rather than the normal £5m limit. The MPA have previously agreed this approach on similar projects of similar value procured through the same IESE route.

Environmental Implications

11. The building will be designed to achieve a very good BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Measurement) rating and incorporate the provision of 20% renewable energy.

The anticipated environmental implications are tabulated below:

 Risk Implications

12. The development of a new custody centre will facilitate the opportunity to deliver efficient and effective support services whilst minimizing the cost of accommodation and maximize use of facilities

Appendices

• Appendix 1 - Panels from a public exhibition
• Exempt Appendix 2 – additional background information

D. Background papers

• MPA Finance Committee Papers dated 19 September 2007 – Appointments to the Custody Centre and Patrol Base Programmes utilising the SECE Major Works Framework

E. Contact details

Report author(s): Peter Ross, Divisional Director, Programme Delivery, MPS

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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