Calls for new police station to be built in Plymouth
A motion has been put forward to the City Council
Last updated 13th Nov 2020
Plymouth’s Labour leadership is calling for a new police station to be built in the city.
Senior councillors say the city has missed out on investment and are calling on the region’s Conservative police and crime commissioner to make it a priority for funding.
Gareth Derrick, Labour’s candidate for the elected commissioner’s job, has set out the demand in a motion to the city council on Monday.
The city councillor says the city has been let down by cuts in policing and funding for the criminal justice system in recent years due to Conservative policies.
He points out the city’s two main police stations at Charles Cross and Crownhill are largely unimproved since they were built in the 1960s.
He says in recent years the commissioner has invested around £45million in a new Devon HQ and station at Exeter, police stations at Bodmin, Liskeard, Okehampton and Camborne, and a new station is planned at Barnstaple.
He wants backing from the council for the leader to write to the current commissioner Alison Hernandez asking for a new police station in Plymouth to be prioritised.
Cllr Derrick said: “The city has been let down badly by a severe cut in policing and criminal justice resources in recent years.
“This undermines our future prosperity as there are less police on the streets, fewer prosecutions, and there’s not enough investment in crime prevention across the city.
“Worst of all, we’ve seen a huge rise in violent crime incidents over the past four years, as is the case across Devon and Cornwall.
“We don’t just need more officers, but better community policing and improved access to police services for our people.
“It’s a big and important ask to call for a new police station, but the buildings at Charles Cross and Crownhill are old and tired.
“They are way behind on environmental standards and fall well short of the modern police facilities being built elsewhere.
“The Commissioner can show that she is committed to the future safety and prosperity of Plymouth by starting to plan for this now.”
Cllr Derrick was due to stand as the Labour candidate for the police and crime commissioner job at an election in May 2020.
Ms Hernandez was due to stand again for another four-year term, but the election was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now expected to take place in May 2021.
If the move is backed by the council, the leader will ask the police commissioner to prioritise the building requirements for the city’s future policing needs, and offer to help to co-ordinate and establish proposals for a new HQ.