11293 report 19 - CAIN - University of Ulster

the border with the Republic of Ireland. Recommendations for selling the buildings are based onthe present and projected usage as an operational base. The oversight team found that only 40%of the police stations are open to the public during normal business hours.As of April of 2007, over 30 ordinary police stations have received moderate to major renovationsconsistent with the intent of this recommendation. The Magherafelt police station, for example,recently received a major renovation, but it retains some out-of-date security features related to aforbidding appearance. Progress has been accomplished on the renovation of 32 enquiry officeslocated in police stations and headquarters buildings, making these public reception rooms morewelcoming to members of the public. The Police Service has additional enquiry offices planned forrenovation, plus it is revising the schedule to be consistent with the plan to reduce the number ofdistrict command units and police stations.Remaining IssuesThis recommendation has been left open for the attention of the Policing Board. Although thereis a good Estate Planning strategy now in place, it requires continuous updating each yearpermitting available capital improvement funds to be directed to those police stations that providelong-term operational benefit. The reorganisation of Districts will presumably impact the estateplanning. Additionally, related technology (e.g. CCTV) issues cannot be advanced until it is clearwhere all new builds will be located. At the same time, the Policing Board needs to face itsresponsibility as owners of the estate and expedite the sale of closed/non-operational policestations. For example, in the new “C” District there are 16 police stations, but only four areconsidered operational.Recommendation 53b:Appearance of Police Stations (Civilian Receptionists)Patten Recommendation:53. Existing police stations should - subject to the security situation in their areas and to healthand safety considerations - be progressively made less forbidding in appearance, moreaccessible to public callers and more congenial for those working in them.The publicreception areas inside police stations should be made more welcoming, and civilianreceptionists could replace police officers.Lead Responsibility: NIO/Policing Board/Chief ConstableRecommendation StatusFull compliance with this recommendation has not been achieved (Limited Progress).History70During the past seven years only limited progress has been accomplished in replacing regularpolice officers and Full Time Reserves (FTRs) working in police station public reception areas withcommunity-based civilian receptionists. Initially, the Police Service estimated that fullimplementation of this recommendation would potentially release up to 260 police officers toperform patrol or investigative duties. The initial use of an internal trawl to employ 50 or moreStation Enquiry Assistants (SEAs) did not address the issue of community representation. In 2002Grafton Recruitment received a contract to begin filling the remaining civilian SEA positions.