A NEW police station is being built in Bromley by a private company at a cost of £40m.

The three-storey station, due to open in August 2003, is being built on the site of the former NCP car park near Bromley South station.

It will replace Bromley police's old headquarters, in Widmore Road, and will house around 550 staff and officers. Bromley police's specialist units, currently based in stations around the borough, will be brought together there.

It is being built under a 25-year contract Private Finance Initiative which will see construction subsidiary Equion build and run police stations in Bromley, Lewisham and Deptford.

Equion will provide the staff to manage civilian jobs, which will put at least 24 trained officers back on the streets of Bromley.

Equion managing director Richard Weston said: "The broad range of support services we will provide will enable the police to focus on their frontline duties."

The inclusion of a range of police support services is the first of its kind. The Metropolitan Police Association is hoping the move will cut annual costs through creating a more efficient system.

Bromley police's senior resources manager Dave Prebbles said: "We should have got a new station in 1994 but there wasn't the money. Our sector officers are currently housed in Portakabins.

"The new building will allow us to offer a better service to our customers, with more space and more privacy. It is very good news."

Orpington MP John Horam said: "I think this is a good idea as long as it does not close down more police stations."

PFI schemes have been used extensively in prison services, hospitals and on the rail network but have not yet been tested extensively in the police force.

November 26, 2001 11:39