AS part of Essex Police’s continued programme with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to rationalise and modernise our estate, they are carrying out planned improvement works to three custody suites over the coming months.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring our custody suites are as safe, efficient and modern as they can be both for our detainees and staff.

As part of this programme we are now preparing to start improvement works on our three oldest suites, Colchester, Harlow and Clacton.

In order to carry out these works it will be necessary to temporarily close each custody suite.

In Colchester we plan to close the custody facility in April this year and re-open it in early June. During this time those arrested in the borough will be taken to nearby Clacton.

The Harlow custody suite will close in early June and will reopen in late July. During that time those arrested in Harlow will be taken to the facility at Grays.

In late July Clacton custody will close for works and will reopen in early September. During that time, those arrested in Clacton will be taken to Colchester.

Glenn Caton, Essex Police’s Head of Criminal Justice Command said: “We are committed to ensuring our custody provision continues to meet the necessary and rigorous safety standards required.

“These works are extremely important to ensure they continue to do that. We are carrying out the works at separate times to ensure we have more than enough cells across the county to cater for our detainees.

“These temporary closures will not impact our ability or will to carry out arrests and we will continue to do just that.”

Currently Essex Police has seven operational custody suites (Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Grays, Harlow and Southend) with a 123 cell capacity.

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Readers asked us what happens to a person in Harlow, who arrested or detained is transferred thirty miles away to Grays.

An Essex Police spokesperson said:

“If someone is bailed, released under investigation or no further action is taken, Essex Police have a duty of care to facilitate getting the person to where they need to be.

“If a person is charged, then it is the individual’s responsibility to make their own way to where they need to be”.