Fight to save Ashford's police custody suite grows
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by Sarah Marshall and Sam Lennon
Opposition to a plan to close Ashford police station's custody
suite is mounting.
The family of Ben Neilson, who died after being attacked in
the town centre, has described plans to close the
Ashford cells as “madness”.
If the plan goes ahead, offenders will have to be taken to
Folkestone which Ben’s family fears will mean fewer police on the
street.
South Kent Police Chief Superintendent Chris Hogben has said it
would actually save time and free up officers as it currently takes
an average of an hour-and-a-half to book prisoners in to the cells
at Ashford, but Ben’s family and friends are not convinced.
Ben died, aged 21, after an attack in the town when he was home
from university for the Easter holidays.
His mum, Barbara Neilson, of Essella Road, said: “Maybe if there
had been police in Ashford town centre that night, Ben would still
be alive.
“People are calling for more police in Ashford, not less.”
Ben’s friends have also condemned the plans.
Charing parish councillors have added their voices to the
protests saying they are “horrified” at the proposal.
The Parish Council has backed a campaign by solicitor Mark
Haskell to halt the plans.
It now intends to write in protest to Kent Chief Constable Mike
Fuller.
Last week Mr Haskell, from Haskell & Co in Elwick Road,
Ashford, expressed fears that the closure of Ashford’s custody
suite could lead to the closure of the neighbouring court.
He claims it would no longer make sense to transfer prisoners there
from Folkestone police station.
He adds that the scheme could cause a fall in arrest rates through
extended travel, waiting and procedural times for officers.
South Kent Ch Supt Chris Hogben has argued that the plan would free
front-line officers for patrol by leaving paperwork to custody
specialists.
He said the scheme, currently under consultation with stakeholders,
would increase the number of cells at Folkestone police station
from 15 to 35.
He added that extra journey times would be compensated by getting
officers back on the streets and Ashford would continue as a fully
operational station.
Thursday, July 23 2009
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