John Mann questioned Police Minister, Nick Herbert in Parliament yesterday on the Notts Police Chief’s decision to close Worksop Police Station’s Custody Suite.  Nick Herbert backed the closure saying they were “supportive of those forces that seek to contract out custody facilities and in so doing improve their service and save money”

Commenting on Nick Herbert’s response, John Mann said “Mr Herbert clearly has no understanding of the Worksop situation.  The closure of our custody suite will take police away from front line duty whilst they are driving prisoners to other parts of the county.  His systematic belief in backing all cuts no matter how they will impact on local communities is both dangerous and flawed”.

Worksop’s Custody Suite is set to close on 1^st October 2011.  Its impact on the future of Worksop Magistrates Court remains unclear.  The campaign to keep Worksop Magistrates Court open was hard won last year following an active campaign by local people.

Extract from Hansard – 12 September 2011 is as follows:

 John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): Due to Government cuts, Worksop police cells are to close this month. Local police officers have asked me to ask the Home Secretary this: how exactly will that closure contribute to crime reduction in Bassetlaw?

The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick Herbert): It is entirely a matter for the chief constable and police authority how they deploy their resources. There has been some rationalisation of custody and we are also very supportive of those forces that seek to contract out custody facilities and in so doing improve their service and save money.