Redevelopment of Teddington Police Station to provide the future Kingston and Richmond Custody Centre

Report: 15
Date: 15 June 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

The Estates Strategy report presented to the Finance Committee in February 2006 and subsequently to MPA Full Authority in May 2006, highlighted the progress that has been made by the MPS in resolving the accommodation needs relating to custody and criminal justice.

A detailed custody business case report recommending the provision of custody centres in each London Borough to meet long term custody needs was presented to Investment Board and approved in February 2006.

The need to provide further custody provision throughout the MPA estate to support MPS operations is widely accepted and funding has been included within the Capital Programme for 2006/07 and on to fund the first custody centre schemes.

This report requests authorisation to proceed with the redevelopment of Teddington Police station to provide a 30 cell custody centre drawing funding from existing MTFP budgets, to support operational needs of Kingston and Richmond Boroughs (BOCUs).

A. Recommendations

Members are asked to:

1. Approve the proposal to develop a 30 cell custody centre on the Teddington Police Station site to support Kingston and Richmond BOCUs.
2. Approve the appropriate tendering action including the production of the OJEU notices. The feasibility study anticipates an out turn cost inclusive of fees in the sum of £6.77m inclusive of prudent contingencies.

B. Supporting information

1. The MPA and MPS Estates Strategy highlights the need to provide a ‘template’ solution to Borough (BOCU) based policing. The roll out of BOCU based asset plans is dependent on unlocking the current challenges surrounding custody facilities. Until suitable facilities are made available, much of the existing portfolio will need to be retained.

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 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 approved 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 a dis-economy of scale issue 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 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 is anticipated that there will be a total of 33 centres of 30 cells each, although the number of cells can be flexed to meet operational demands.

6. This suggested solution with “custody centres” of no more than 30 cells will keep sites deliverable and fundable whilst not growing “support space” (including support/partner space). Funding has been included in the Capital Programme for the first five sites, including the proposed 30 cell facility at Teddington, Richmond.

7. In the main, the suggested solution is to provide “custody centres” on a BOCU by BOCU basis, probably with no more than 30 cells to keep sites deliverable and fundable whilst not growing “support space” (including support/partner space. Operational Policing at Kingston and Richmond however could be supported through the use of a shared facility, which would provide certain benefits, both cashable and non-cashable to the respective BOCUs. Both BOCU Commanders and the TP Custody Directorate are supportive of merging the custody facilities. How this facility will be operated/resourced will be agreed by the TP Custody Directorate and the respective BOCUs.

8. The location of Teddington police station is central to the two BOCUs, and is seen as an ideal location for a future custody facility. If approved, the developed site will provide suitable accommodation for the Richmond and Kingston BOCUs.

9. The proposal to extend the existing custody facilities will be of minimal impact to the building occupiers and will limit disruption to Richmond and Kingston BOCUs. The existing custody facilities (4 based at Teddington) will need to close during the development programme. Throughout this period it is proposed that custody facilities elsewhere on Borough (4 cells at Richmond and 4 at Twickenham) will support BOCU needs. Transitional operational issues will be addressed and resolved prior to the finalisation of the development programme.

10. Once the custody facilities are operational the existing custody facilities at Kingston police station, Richmond and Twickenham will be surplus to requirements and resources currently deployed at these sites will transfer to the new facilities.

11. The longer term solutions for Kingston and Richmond BOCUs are under review as part of the respective BOCUs asset plans.

12. The proposed redevelopment of Teddington police station is based on a clear affordable and deliverable template solution with standardised property solutions. Providing custody requirements in this way will ensure that the BOCU’s future custody needs will be met.

13. The Finance Committee considered the overarching Estate’s Strategy and related financial matters on the 16 February 2006.

Communication/consultation implications

14. The need to ensure there is suitable communication between the MPS/MPA and London stakeholders in regard to the role out of the estates strategy has been widely discussed. In addition to this, and due to the nature of the functions/facilities provided in custody centres, a communications strategy is being developed to support the role out of this project.

15. Generic plans are being developed and will be issued to the Borough Commanders to ensure TP and Property Services consider stakeholders who need to be contacted. Follow up meetings will be held in early June to finalise this strategy, and a verbal update will be given at the MPA Finance Committee meeting.

16. It is also essential that local community groups are consulted as part of the formal planning process the MPA/MPS will need to follow, to obtain the necessary planning consent of this particular project. Meetings have been held with the Local Planning Authority in Richmond, to ensure that their particular consultation processes are followed, prior to and during the planning process.

17. TP/Borough Commanders will lead on the communication process with support from Property Services. Property Services will lead on the consultation process with support from TP/Borough Commanders.

Abbreviations

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

MTFP

Medium Term Financial Plan

OJEU

Official Journal of the European Union

TP

Territorial Policing

TPHQ

Territorial Policing Headquarters

C. Legal implications

1. There are not considered to be any unusual or additional matters to be brought to Members attention in regard to normal property or construction related matters.

2. Local Authority Planning consent will be required to convert/redevelop existing buildings to provide a custody centre and integral patrol base. Consultation prior to the application for planning consent will be made in liaison with TPHQ and the respective TP link Commander and Borough Commanders.

3. The custody centres will be designed to specific Home Office standards. Human Rights’ issues are being lead by TP.

D. Race and equality impact

1. The upgrade of custody facilities for Kingston and Richmond BOCUs will be compliant with equality and diversity matters and health and safety requirements. Modern improved custody facilities will offer an opportunity to meet many non statutory standards and other concerns that are undeliverable in existing facilities.

E. Financial implications

Capital

1. Details of the capital costs of funding the redevelopment of the site to provide suitable custody facilities are detailed in a note which is available for members in the members room. Capital funding has been included within the Capital Budgets for 2006/07 and on, for the role out of a limited number of custody centres. It is proposed that the cost of developing Teddington Police Station to provide the Kingston and Richmond custody centre is funded from this budget. Funds realised through the future disposal of surplus sites will be recycled to support the funding of future custody centres as part of the roll-out of the over-arching custody programme.

Revenue

2. The operational ‘property’ running costs in terms of heating, maintenance etc., and business rates of the new custody facility, will be absorbed within current budgets as the revenue costs associated with the operation of the new facilities are considered to be lower than the current aged stock. This will also help alleviate the “maintenance backlog”. It is not anticipated that revenue cash savings will arise.

3. Operational Staffing costs will be met through existing budget lines.

F. Background papers

• Update on the Estate Strategy – Building Towards the Safest City
• TPHQ – Emerald Custody – Borough Custody Centres
• Update on the Estate Strategy – Building Towards the Safest City – MPA Finance Committee February 2006
• Update on the Estate Strategy – Building Towards the Safest City – MPA Full Authority May 2006

G. Contact details

Report author: Alan Croney, Director of Property Services, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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