CONTRACTS have been signed this week to allow Hampshire Constabulary to build a new Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, Simon Hayes, signed a contract earlier this week with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for the leasehold purchase of the site for the new investigation centre, in Jays Close, Viables.

As reported by The Gazette, the borough council granted a planning application for the new PIC earlier this month.

The multi-million pound investigation centre, which will cover Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover, Alton, Aldershot and Farnborough, will include 36 custody cells and a public facing lost and found property desk.

It is hoped the new base, which was chosen to be built in Basingstoke due to its “excellent road networks”, will allow frontline police officers to resume and patrol their local communities quicker after taking people to be kept in custody to the centre.

The centre will accommodate 350 members of staff on a shift basis. However, only 210 members of staff are expected to be there at any one time. The site will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week but most activity will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Work is currently taking place on the site to clear vegetation and for soil tests to be carried out to determine the type of foundations that are needed for the building.

Construction work is expected to start in September.

Simon Hayes said: “I am delighted to announce that I have signed a contract with the leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, for the purchase of the leasehold of our Police Investigation Centre site, in Basingstoke.

“This is an important step that brings me closer to replacing ageing custody cells with a modern 36 cell Police Investigation Centre, which is part of my estate strategy that I launched in 2013.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council leader, Councillor Clive Sanders, added: “This contract is another example of the close working relationship we have with the police that has resulted in a significant decrease in crime and antisocial behaviour in recent years. It will strengthen our partnership even further in the future for the communities we serve.”