THE future of Portadown police station in Edward Street is in fresh doubt after it was announced that the PSNI is to carry out a review of all of its buildings in the Craigavon and Armagh areas.
District Commander, Chief Superintendent Alan Todd, announced on Monday that all 19 police stations within 'E District' – which incorporates Craigavon, Armagh, Banbridge and Newry and Mourne – would come under scrutiny.
Mr Todd said, "E District h
as 19 police stations. They are not necessarily in the right place. Not all of them are fit for the job they have to do to meet the needs of the community and the officers and staff who work in them."
The announcement comes after years of speculation regarding the future of the town centre police station. Just six months ago Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly told the Portadown Times that the town centre station was likely to get the axe under the PSNI's new estates policy.
"It's a real rabbit warren and serves neither the public nor the police officers properly in the 21st century. It does not lend itself to an efficient service and a change would be to everyone's benefit. The station is on a side street and isn't amenable to the public," the SDLP councillor argued.
However DUP Councillor Robert Smith, who is also a member of the DPP, said that while he understood that the PSNI were under "huge pressure" to make savings in their budget, he would be "unhappy" if the review concluded that the Edward Street police station should be closed.
"If the station is shut down what is going to be put in its place?" he asked. "Where are people going to go if they need to present their driver's licences or if they need help? I think these issues need to ironed out before the future of the station is decided and I intend raising this issue at the next DPP meeting."
Mr Todd has revealed that if it is recommended that Portadown police station should close, it will be "fully consulted" with the community and their representatives.
"Policing is about people not buildings. I want to engage with people both inside and outside the Police Service about striking the right balance in our estate.
"I want to take their views. At the end of this review I believe that we will see a major investment in new stations and improvements in others," he added.
"No decisions have yet been made, but it is inevitable that some may be reviewed in light of operational and other needs.
"It's important that if a station is closed then people must know what alternatives are being put in place," he said.
The full article contains 458 words and appears in Portadown Times newspaper.
