Liberal Democrats call for new Oldham police station with facilities to book prisoners

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been challenged over concerns that officers may be kept off the streets for longer, under plans which would require them to travel even further to process arrests, say Oldham Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani wrote to the Policy and Crime Commissioner, and Deputy Mayor, Kate Green, following a meeting with her which confirmed that GMP were in discussion with Oldham Council over a new site, after it was revealed that initial plans had no cells. 

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We have heard direct from officers about the amount of time it can take to have to travel outside the area after an arrest. 

“People rightly want to see police out on their streets. We desperately need a police station in Oldham – the current one is well beyond its shelf life, but we need to see one which solves the problems we have, not extends them.”

At the moment, officers in Oldham have to travel to Tameside or further afield to book in arrests, which in parts of the borough can add an hour to the time taken, for each officer involved. Current plans may see officers have to travel even further afield to book in arrests.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “We need more officers on the streets – whether that’s by more priority for neighbourhood policing nationally, or practical solutions locally.

“Recently we have seen police facilities lost in Shaw and Crompton. The independent-led town council removed access for officers, meaning wasted time for them travelling to Oldham to parade on and off at the start and end of the day. 

“We need to have officers visible on our streets, and unfortunately we are seeing poor decisions from inexperienced councillors, and impractical approaches from GMP, which are reducing that.”