26 October 2004

Police Minister opens new Richmond Station

Police Minister George Hawkins today opened the new Richmond Police Station, the 12th new police station opened since the Labour-led government took office in December 1999.

Mr Hawkins said funding allocated for the Richmond Police Station Project was $1.1m, including construction, professional fees, Specific Police IT and security and new furniture and fittings. The project has been completed on time and under budget.

Mr Hawkins said the new building as a great asset for both the Richmond community and the 16 or so Police staff it would house.

The approximately 420sqm purpose built station stands on the site of the previous station and includes the following functions:

Front counter and waiting area Watchouse Senior Sergeant's Office General duties, CIB, Youth Aid, and Community Constable work areas Interview facilities, charge and processing area, two temporary holding cells and sallyport Meal Room or Community meeting space Locker and storage areas.

Mr Hawkins said this week he will also open a new station in Morrinsville, with Oamaru's a new station due to be opened in mid-December.

”Eleven other new stations are currently being built or in the planning stages and a further eight are in the pipeline," Mr Hawkins said.

The budget spend on police building programme is in excess of $73m over 5 years. A total of 48 stations had been upgraded since December 1999 as at June this year, with about $1.89m per year spent on refurbishments over $5000, Mr Hawkins said.

ENDS

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