The units being used in the construction of the Isle of Man Constabulary’s new custody block will arrive in the Island this week.
The modular buildings have been loaded on to the cargo vessel Arklow Venus in Swansea for transportation to Douglas. They will then be taken to the TT Grandstand before being craned into place at Police Headquarters.
More than 30 individual units will be locked together to create the new custody block, with work scheduled for completion towards the end of March 2015.
The development will replace the existing facilities, which have reached the end of their operational life after more than 30 years of service.
The scheme is a key part of plans by Department of Home Affairs to consolidate all Douglas detention facilities onto one location. This will improve efficiency and allow the Isle of Man Constabulary to vacate the Lord Street police station, freeing it up for potential development.
Minister Juan Watterson MHK said:
‘The construction of a new custody block is necessary to meet the ever more stringent demands of safer detention. In the modern custody setting, the existing facilities had become increasingly unfit for purpose. The modular design of the new units will generate important time and cost savings and this development will support our commitments to community safety and protecting vulnerable people. Work is progressing well and the project is currently on time and on budget.’
