Police to leave the City Centre

iansmithofotley · Post by **iansmithofotley** » Fri 11 Dec, 2009 9:52 pm

Hi everyone,I can’t believe that these two Police Stations are being replaced. Millgarth was only built in 1976 and Holbeck was only built in about 1980.Although I am ‘out of touch’, I also have difficulty in believing that Holbeck Police Station no longer has a Custody Suite. This can only be because the Chief Constable no longer ‘designates’ it as a Designated Police Station (under s. 35 PACE 1984), probably to save money, and the facilities have probably been replaced with offices. I worked at Holbeck Police Station as an inspector from 1988 until 1990. It certainly had a custody suite in those days and was a ‘Designated Police Station’. Whenever I was on duty, apart from supervising a shift, I was a “Review Officer’ and always had a ‘Custody Officer’ (sergeant) on duty with me, who was in charge of the suite, the cellblock and the prisoners. This was the situation on each of the four shift groups.It is incredible that there will be no Police Station in the City Centre. I have always found it hard to understand that in recent times, Millgarth was not open to the public 24/7. You rarely see any police officers patrolling in the city centre as it is, it will be even worse without a Police Station.http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt/ ... 6&ss=ls1We had problems in Leeds prior to the 1970’s, because most of the ‘old’ police stations, except Millgarth, had inadequate cells facilities so most of the prisoners had to go to the Bridewell (Central Charge Office) at Leeds Town Hall, for detention, photographing and fingerprinting. It was a great improvement when the outer sub divisions got better facilities and could carry out all of these tasks. The old Millgarth had plenty of cells.If I am not mistaken, a similar situation, regarding the closure of a Police Station in the city centre, has happened in Bradford.In my experience, the Police Service are experts in ‘re-inventing the wheel’. No doubt in years to come, we will see a return to proper policing , the abandonment of the present gimmick of ‘neighbourhood policing’, P.C.S.O’s, etc., and proper police officers doing a proper job, patrolling the streets, using their discretion and visibly and practically serving the public, personally, promptly, efficiently and effectively.Ian

Post by **cnosni** » Fri 11 Dec, 2009 10:10 pm

This plan has been mooted for about 2 years now.The idea is moree of a replacement for Holbeck rather than Millgarth as Millgarth is virtually empty except for the desk,which is only open during the day.The Bridewell is the main holding area for town,Millgarth looks like its virtually non operational so its complete closure will have little effect on the current situation.Im sure we have covered this on another thread somewhere.Millgarth is /was worth a lot,it was a proposed site of a possible 60 storey building (pre recession).Given its proximity to the hopeful Harewood quarter development then perhaps some speculators sense the chance to snap up a piece of the city centre at a considerably reduced amount than two years ago.Money Money Money (must be funny)

Post by **cnosni** » Fri 11 Dec, 2009 10:15 pm

iansmithofotley wrote: Hi everyone,I can’t believe that these two Police Stations are being replaced. Millgarth was only built in 1976 and Holbeck was only built in about 1980.Although I am ‘out of touch’, I also have difficulty in believing that Holbeck Police Station no longer has a Custody Suite. This can only be because the Chief Constable no longer ‘designates’ it as a Designated Police Station (under s. 35 PACE 1984), probably to save money, and the facilities have probably been replaced with offices. I worked at Holbeck Police Station as an inspector from 1988 until 1990. It certainly had a custody suite in those days and was a ‘Designated Police Station’. Whenever I was on duty, apart from supervising a shift, I was a “Review Officer’ and always had a ‘Custody Officer’ (sergeant) on duty with me, who was in charge of the suite, the cellblock and the prisoners. This was the situation on each of the four shift groups.It is incredible that there will be no Police Station in the City Centre. I have always found it hard to understand that in recent times, Millgarth was not open to the public 24/7. You rarely see any police officers patrolling in the city centre as it is, it will be even worse without a Police Station.http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt/ ... 6&ss=ls1We had problems in Leeds prior to the 1970’s, because most of the ‘old’ police stations, except Millgarth, had inadequate cells facilities so most of the prisoners had to go to the Bridewell (Central Charge Office) at Leeds Town Hall, for detention, photographing and fingerprinting. It was a great improvement when the outer sub divisions got better facilities and could carry out all of these tasks. The old Millgarth had plenty of cells.If I am not mistaken, a similar situation, regarding the closure of a Police Station in the city centre, has happened in Bradford.In my experience, the Police Service are experts in ‘re-inventing the wheel’. No doubt in years to come, we will see a return to proper policing , the abandonment of the present gimmick of ‘neighbourhood policing’, P.C.S.O’s, etc., and proper police officers doing a proper job, patrolling the streets, using their discretion and visibly and practically serving the public, personally, promptly, efficiently and effectively.Ian Ian ,you talk a great deal of sense.Unfortunately the clusterf**ks who now run our services are not "shop floor trained",they are fasr tracked graduates who are good at trying to save money (on paper) and are adept at providing sound bites for the media.Lets have loads of Gene Hunts,but without the racism!!

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 11 Dec, 2009 11:32 pm

Just a thought, having seen Phill's journeys, Iwonder if thought has been given to just what an easy terrorist target Milgarth is?

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Fri 11 Dec, 2009 11:45 pm

'Ello,'ello,'ello - wot's that building in Westgate that says 'Police' on it, then? Doesn't that count as city centre?

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 11 Dec, 2009 11:59 pm

chameleon wrote: Just a thought, having seen Phill's journeys, Iwonder if thought has been given to just what an easy terrorist target Milgarth is? Guy Fawkes says start in Meanwood.

Post by **cnosni** » Sat 12 Dec, 2009 4:09 pm

Uno Hoo wrote: 'Ello,'ello,'ello - wot's that building in Westgate that says 'Police' on it, then? Doesn't that count as city centre? Pretty sure that it is now used for storage,and,i believe,some of the more covert police teams

Post by **chameleon** » Sat 12 Dec, 2009 5:03 pm

Uno Hoo wrote: 'Ello,'ello,'ello - wot's that building in Westgate that says 'Police' on it, then? Doesn't that count as city centre? Any remaining presence there is all admin.

iansmithofotley · Post by **iansmithofotley** » Sat 12 Dec, 2009 6:22 pm

Uno Hoo wrote: 'Ello,'ello,'ello - wot's that building in Westgate that says 'Police' on it, then? Doesn't that count as city centre? Hi Uno Hoo,The building is Brotherton House and has never been a Police Station. It was the Force Headquarters of Leeds City Police from 1965 until 1974. It was then the area headquarters, for the Leeds area, after the 1974 Police amalgamation of forces. It has been discussed before:http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... hLight=1In recent years the Police presence in the building has diminished and I thought that they had vacated the building and it had been sold a couple of years ago. I understand from a Police friend that the Police are still using part of the building. I do not know whether it is still owned by the Police or whether it has been sold and is now being leased.The other building in Westgate is the Magistrates Courts building with the main Leeds Bridewell behind it. Again, a Bridewell (or Central Charge Office) is a holding place for the processing of prisoners and also for the detention of prisoners until they appear at court for their first appearance or they are to appear at court on remand from jail.A Bridewell (or Central Charge Office) is not in itself a Police Station for normal public/police general matters. However, it will be nominated by the Chief Constable as a "Designated Police Station" as it has a custody suite and will have custody officers working there. Since the introduction of P.A.C.E., anyone who has been arrested must appear before a Custody Officer as soon as possible, after arrest. All Chief Constables must nominate all Police Stations in their area which are "Designated Police Stations' (with custody suites and custody officers).This means that if, for example, a man was arrested in Otley, he would usually be taken straight to Weetwood Police Station and not Otley Police Station, even though there are cells at Otley, Pudsey and what was Horsforth Police Station. This is because Weetwood is 'Designated'. Prisoners can be taken to non-designated police stations in the first instance but then must be transferrd to a designated police station as soon as possible, to appear before a Custody Officer, so it's usually easier to take them there in the first instance. The same thing would apply with Wetherby/Stainbeck and Garforth/Killingbeck.When I worked at Holbeck, we used to deal with prisoners from Morley.Apparently, since the re-arrangement of the Police Divisions e.g. Millgarth amalgamating with Holbeck, both of which were originally 'designated', Holbeck ceased to be 'designated'.I understand from my Police friend that, at the moment, nearly all prisoners go straight to the Bridewell. It is ironical that this is the situation which we had prior to the 1970's. As mentioned previously, the Police are experts in 're-inventing the wheel'.Ian.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 12 Dec, 2009 6:54 pm

Having reviewed the article, it appears that the proposed location of the new police station is what is currently used as the main matchday car park on Elland Road.Which now begs the question, where are all those football fans going to park now?Even with Leeds languishing in the lower leagues the place is very busy everytime there is a game on and should promotion be achieved, attendance are sure to increase. And that is without the proposed building work at Elland Road adding shops and a hotel as well as increasing the stadium capacity, etc.I despair at the lack of joined up thinking in this city, I really do.Still, at least there will be plenty of people around to dish out parking tickets.