TO take Devon and Cornwall Police into the 21st Century, Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly handed over two new police stations to the Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable on Saturday, February 1.

During the morning, she held a ceremony to officially open Liskeard Police Station in Cornwall.

In the afternoon, guests were invited to a ceremony to hand-over the new Exeter Police Station.

The stations represent a £31m investment in the police estate, with much of that money being spent locally.

The projects will help to improve connectivity with communities across both counties and create modern and sustainable policing for the future.

The commissioner has ownership of force estate and land and has funded and planned both new stations, which has been delivered on time and on budget.

PCC Alison Hernandez, said: “This is a significant investment in the police estate and will help residents feel safer and better connected to the police, which is a key part of my police and crime plan.

“Staff welfare is paramount and both stations are spacious, modern and have state-of-the art facilities which will help boost morale.

"They have both been designed in partnership with officers and staff. I would like to thank everyone involved who have helped ensure both buildings are fit for purpose.

“We have tried to keep disruption in both locations to a minimum during the build and measures were put in place to ensure minimal impact. I would, however, like to thank the local community and staff and officers for their patience and co-operation during both builds.

“One of our main aims was to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while redesigning new buildings in a more cost effective way, making better use of space and greener materials. I am extremely proud that the new stations achieve this aim.”

The £29 million station based on Sidmouth Road at Middlemoor in Exeter will be the new operational county headquarters for Devon. It is within the top 10 per cent sustainable buildings in the country while the £2 million standalone station in Liskeard on Greenbank road replaces the existing station which was built in 1968 and had structural issues.

Built by contractor Wilmott Dixon, Exeter’s station will provide the public with a new and improved public enquiry office and a base for around 500 officers whose duties range from community policing to major crime investigation.

Exeter’s existing police station in Heavitree, built in 1968, was no longer fit for purpose for staff, victims or offenders.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPPC) is currently working with Exeter City Council to develop plans for the site in line with the council’s local plan.

The public enquiry office will re-open in the new station from 8am on Wednesday, April 22.

The new station is close to Devon’s main arterial road network and other transport links serving East and Mid Devon as well as Exeter.

It includes a state-of-the-art custody suite will provide 40 police cells and additional facilities such as access for solicitors and interview rooms. Some cells are fitted with Oxehealth cameras which monitor vital signs.

It has an environmentally friendly water system and features 314 square metres of solar panels which will save £40,000 over five years.

Built to meet stringent thermal efficiency standards, the new station will provide 22 per cent less carbon dioxide than a standard building, with 98 per cent of waste diverted from landfill.

At around 8,000 sqm, the building footprint is the largest construction project that the OPCC has ever undertaken.

Liskeard’s station, built by contractor Ryearch Ltd, will be a base for around 70 officers and staff and is situated next to the Cornwall Fire, Rescue and Community Safety Service and South West Ambulance Foundation Trust.

The new Liskeard station is the biggest single investment in Cornwall’s police estate for a decade.

It replaces the old police station which had structural issues and it was decided it was more economically feasible to build a new station in the existing car park.

Demolition of the existing building allowed room to be created for the new build, car parking and access requirements.

The new building will house community policing response, tri-service, specials and CID officers and staff.

The station is open 24 hours-a-day and will be accessible to the public by appointment only. The nearest public enquiry office is located in Bodmin or Charles Cross.

There is a 101 non-emergency telephone on the outside of the building.

The re-build is part of South East Cornwall’s estate programme which will include the re-building of Camborne Police Station later in the year.

One of the main aims of the building is to reduce the carbon usage of the Force while redesigning new buildings in a more cost effective way making better use of space and greener materials.

The new stations are part of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s estates programme which will include the rebuilding of Camborne police station and the redevelopment of Okehampton police station later in the year.

See more photos in the current issue of the Courier.