Penrith Police HQ ‘Not Fit for Purpose’ as Commissioner hints at New West Cumbria Hub and £40 million HQ

Cumbria could get a new £40 million police headquarters which is fit for purpose within the next 20 years according to the county’s police fire and crime commissioner but the new HQ could be located in West Cumbria rather than Penrith.

David Allen, Cumbria's police fire and crime commissioner who has been in post for 100 days, was speaking as he outlined a number of achievements made during his first 100 days in the role.

When asked what he was planning to do next, Mr Allen outlined two major projects, including a proposed new £40 million police headquarters, which could become a reality over the next 10 to 20 years.

Mr Allen described the current building, Carleton Hall in Penrith, as being not “fit for purpose”. 

He did not disclose if a new location had already been chosen for the new police headquarters but did indicate it may not be located in Penrith, saying “We are working on the plans for that.” suggesting that a new “blue light” centre, which could house the police, fire and ambulance services, could be built at Lillyhall to replace the existing police stations Workington and Whitehaven which he said were coming to the end of their working lives.

He added: “They can deploy quickly to those places. If we go down that route that will be £20 million of investment so it will take time.

“What I will also make sure we have satellite offices for the police that are very, very visible in the town centre because I think that is where we have lost our way a little bit.

“In the last 14 years my predecessors closed 16 police stations and there isn’t a market town really that has got a community police station left.

“I don’t have the money to reopen those but what I do want to do however is get shopfronts in those towns so there is a visible place for the police in the heart of the community and people know they are there.”

Mr Allen said that the achievements made during the first 100 days included:

The introduction of a neighbourhood policing pledge;

An additional £1 million to target antisocial behaviour and serious violence hotspots;

Progress in tackling the £16 million savings to be made within police budget;

Ensuring Cumbria has a voice on a national level;

Providing the fire and rescue servicewith the resources needed to protect the public – including new equipment;

Launching a consultation to find out the public’s priorities for and views on policing and fire services in Cumbria that will create the Police, Fire and Crime Plan.


This article includes report by Ian Duncan Local Democracy reproting Service

National Headlines
National and International News Headlines...
Add Penrith.Town App. Press Then select "Add to Home Screen"