Chelmsford's new a - Essex Police

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CHELMSFORD'S new
police station is the
first replacement Divisional
Headquarters
built for the Force
: since before World
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: War 11 and after such
a long wait the plan-
ners have tried to give
it everything.
Of course, voices
will be raised in dis-
satisfaction at some
features, but that is
inevitable. The pubtic
entrance to the en-
quiry counter, though
admirably equipped
with a public tele-
phone and toilets,
needs an extra door
to be secure against
p U b l i c penetration
into parts of the
building where they
are not needed.
Inadequate ,
The tiny night kit-
chen, for the night
shift to cook their
food, is on the first
floor but dining-room
accommodation is on
the top floor. The
underground car park
leaks badly and has
already s p r o U t e d
white stalactites. One
would have liked the
bar-lounge to be dif-
: plaints of detail
whereas the good I
: points are mainly of
: I much greater import-
=: ance.
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Downstairs
: The cells are in the
: basement and with
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: them the charge room
: and other facilities
5 for processing prison-
: ers. The cell block,
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built on a square plan,
: is entered directly
: car park. It contains
: I from the basement
: I well equipped doctor's
: examination r oo m,
matron's room, and
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: plenty of "guest
: rooms." In the centre
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: is an exercise yard
: with no security
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: problem as it is com-
: pletely enclosed to the
A contrast in s1
The new : the
LEFT
12.02 p.m. on January 24
and the first customers
present themselves at the
enquiry desk to be met by
P.s. Terry Horton. The
callers, Mr. Colin Palmer,
for 22 years farm foreman
at Broomf ield Hospital, and
his wife, had called to see
P.C. Dick Lucas on the
doleful matter of a sudden
death in their family, but
were pleased to be "first
footers."
RIGHT
Just to make sure Chief
Insp. Ben Jenkinson,
Admin, posts the diversion
sign and locks up the front
door of the old station,
watched by Supt. George
Tame.
full height m
: building.
of the
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In the Station Sergeant's
office on the
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floor abovejust be-
: hind the public enm
: quiry office, is a large
: mirror of stainless
=' steel to enable the
switchboard will leave Their counterparts
absolutely no room in C.I.D. leave the
for any slackness in
rabbit warren offices
answering calls. At they have occupied
night it can be previously for one
a process servinghatch
from his room
into the main office.
This feature has also
been employed bereduced
to a whirlwind,
conveyer belt
Process---or perhaps
one might say, endless
belt, because six
trolleys, one for eac
work floor, for to Monday. bank U
T h e gymnasiurr
assembly hall is larg
: sergeant to see what switched to a "level large room which will been the town in- typists will work in
m ---and tall - enoug
is going on in the 8" system by which contain the whole spectors and ser- a pool equipped with for badminton br
: charge room below. anyone on any exten- department apart from geants' rooms. a 'dial-in' dictation
I more violent pursuit
W sion in the station the D.C.I. and D.I., bank. Dial '4' and talk are likely to be dis
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m can dial '8' and answer office manager, four
fast will be the order. couraged as the wir
:
Security
m Communications an incoming call ring- clerks, Det. ~gts. In fact, so fast are dows come dow
m ing on the switch- and Constables will the typists expected rather close to thr
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: is the most up-to-date The whole suite These buildings take terior doors in the are provided with a floor, above, is th
communications suite is anti-static carpeted. so long in the plan- building have locks- rest area where they billiards roqm whic
: in the Force. Three ning that, alas, the except the cells, of can flop into an easy has a spectator wir
rooms are occupied Scenes of crime - process office, having course. But on the chair to relax-and dow overlooking th~
I On the first floor board. all be in close contact. At present, no in- to work, that they . floor. On the to
= teleprinters and in the
: largest the radio and
This department is
well equipped and
of three must contain
seven, but the Inspecson
with any sort of
administrative task has
keys to cool.
And for the week-
The billiards rwn
is next door to thc
telephone equipment.
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: The telephone
personnel will move
out from Headquarters
tomanit.
tor has a comfortable
office with what can
been provided with
a lockable desk.
end, when there are
no typists, there are
lounge bar. This rwr
is smallish and tht
: by the Collater, the been built for a staff other hand every per-
I possibly to allow the main hall.
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I) only be described as Typing has been dictation machines on bar is in an alcovi
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