Money and Resources
The Herald has a 'good news' story today.
A new custody unit - the first of its kind in Scotland - is opening in Kilmarnock at a cost of £845,000, but will connect the town's police station and the local court.
In other words it is intended to use public resources more efficiently - with Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Court Service using the building on alternate days.
Apparently up to 10 prisoners will be held in the block at any one time - and because of its proximity to the court this will reduce time spent by the police - transferring suspects back and forwards from the 'custody suite'.
The newspaper says that the Scottish Court Service will use the block during working weekday hours - while Strathclyde Police will be able to access it from Friday evening - i.e. over the busy weekend period and up until early Monday morning.
Strathclyde Police chief Stephen House - one of the favourites to take over as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London welcomed the move and said:
“In this age of restrictions on budgets, it is an effective use of money and resources.”
So it seems - though it makes you wonder why no one thought about it a long time ago.
A new custody unit - the first of its kind in Scotland - is opening in Kilmarnock at a cost of £845,000, but will connect the town's police station and the local court.
In other words it is intended to use public resources more efficiently - with Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Court Service using the building on alternate days.
Apparently up to 10 prisoners will be held in the block at any one time - and because of its proximity to the court this will reduce time spent by the police - transferring suspects back and forwards from the 'custody suite'.
The newspaper says that the Scottish Court Service will use the block during working weekday hours - while Strathclyde Police will be able to access it from Friday evening - i.e. over the busy weekend period and up until early Monday morning.
Strathclyde Police chief Stephen House - one of the favourites to take over as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London welcomed the move and said:
“In this age of restrictions on budgets, it is an effective use of money and resources.”
So it seems - though it makes you wonder why no one thought about it a long time ago.
