The Department of Home Affairs has submitted plans to construct a new custody block at police headquarters in Douglas.
 
Subject to permission being granted, the proposed development would replace the existing facilities which have reached the end of their operational life after more than 40 years of service.
 
The project will involve a capital investment of nearly ?3 million and work would get under way next spring, with an estimated completion date of December 2014. The new custody block would then be operational by early 2015.
 
The plans are part of the Department’s strategy to consolidate all Douglas detention facilities into one location. This will help to improve efficiency and allow the police to vacate the Lord Street site – freeing it up for potential development.
 
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘The new block has become necessary to meet the ever more stringent demands of safer detention. In the modern custody setting, the current facilities have become increasingly unfit for purpose.’
 
He added: ‘The proposed development will be designed and constructed to the latest specifications for police custody units and provide enhanced facilities for healthcare and legal advisers. This will enable better working practices and remove the need for overflow units to be opened at times of peak demand, reducing staffing costs in terms of overtime requirements.’