Our Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Projects Department is responsible for looking after a large-scale and ground-breaking project to provide new custody facilities across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Known as the Two Counties Police Investigation Centres (PIC) Project, this capital building project aims to provide up-to-date and high-quality facilities in our county for the next 30 years.

There are currently a number of custody suites at police stations across Norfolk which provide facilities to detain people who are under arrest or who have been charged with an offence and are awaiting their first court appearance.

However, most of our facilities have become old, outdated, and increasingly unsuitable. We have a legal and moral obligation to provide a good and comfortable environment for detained people and for our police officers and police staff who work in these custody suites.

Therefore PFI Projects Department staff are using their expertise and project management skills to develop brand new police investigation centres or PICs across Norfolk and Suffolk which will:

• comply with legislation;
• promote the effective investigation of offences;
• provide comfortable conditions for workers and visitors
• overall provide safe, secure, compliant and effective detainee processing facilities

PICs, which will primarily open at four sites in Norfolk and two in Suffolk, will be buildings designed and built to process people taken into custody but are not general police stations.

In a completely ground-breaking move, once PICs are up and running, detained people will no longer be dealt with at police stations in Norfolk. PICs will be staffed with dedicated teams to undertake detainee handling and investigations in purpose-built, carefully designed facilities with access to technical and scientific investigation tools.

The Two Counties PIC Project is planning the details of the detainee handling process. Together with Suffolk Constabulary, we aim to develop professional and skilled teams, including partner agencies, which provide a high-quality service to the community and operational officers.

Efficient detainee handling will help investigating officers to provide better support and service to victims and witnesses. More effective investigations will help to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and increase satisfaction and confidence in the police.

We are legally-bound to use European Union tendering processes for purchasing products or services, and following an exacting process Justice Support Services (JSS) were selected as the Preferred Bidder on 21 November 2008. JSS will provide the buildings and also the contract management, estates and facilities, grounds maintenance, utilities and energy management, catering, cleaning waste and pest control, detainee consumables and laundry services.

Sites at King’s Lynn, Wymondham, Aylsham, and Great Yarmouth have all been purchased along with sites Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich in Suffolk.

Once the contract is signed, JSS takes the building and financing risks until the PICs are operational when the police authorities start paying a 'Unitary Charge' for use of the buildings and facilities. This helps ensure the build will be swift, efficient and to our specifications.

Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies are legally-bound to use the buildings and facilities for 30 years, unless the consortium fails to provide the high-quality service specified in the agreement.

The PICs are a key part of the new model for policing and present a huge opportunity to meet our Vision, Pledge and Principles through the first half of the 21st century.