§ Miss HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 December,Official Report, columns 266–67, on police accommodation in Lambeth, when the strategic review of the provision of police accommodation was commenced; by whom it was conducted; what its conclusions were; and what actions have been taken as a result. [12376]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Commissioner informs me that a review of police accommodation in Lambeth began in July 1996 to determine priorities for new police accommodation in the borough. It is being conducted by a police superintendent working to a member of the area senior management team.
The review focused initially on a feasibility study into an alternative approach to the provision of custody accommodation in Lambeth and concluded that a centralised criminal justice facility would be a more effective alternative to a traditional police station on the Grafton square site. The term "criminal justice facility" has been adopted by the Metropolitan police to describe the proposed development. The development would house all the cells, and process the related administration, for the police stations in the borough of Lambeth. It would also include an identification suite, and a sector base and station office with facilities for pubic inquiries.
This conclusion will affect other police accommodation needs in Lambeth, which are now being considered as part of the continuing review. Action to date has been confined to an amended planning application for the Clapham site.