Cells will go in new year

Police chiefs confirmed last month that some “operational functions” at the site in Aldams Road could go, but refused to say what was at risk.

But this week Sgt Steven Hinchcliffe confirmed that the cells would close in January. He told Dewsbury Area Committee: “It will have an impact on officers present on the streets.”

He told the meeting that officers would have to go all the way to Huddersfield to lock up suspected criminals. A 35 cell “custody suite” at a new multi-million pound police headquarters in Normanton would be the next closest option.

Sgt Hinchcliffe told the meeting: “This will have an effect on the quality of service you are going to get.” He said officers from Batley would provide support to cope with officers from Dewsbury having to travel further.

Sgt Hinchcliffe confirmed that Dewsbury’s police station as a whole was not at risk. He also told the meeting about operations aimed at cutting down theft in the town centre in the run up to Christmas.