A community living in the shadow of Nottinghamshire Police's new custody suite have told of their life on the streets where "you wake up to flashing lights at night". The 50-cell facility in Radford Road, Nottingham lies on the former old gas works and reopened just a year ago in September.
Tucked away in the heart of New Basford, it replaces the force’s old custody suite at the Bridewell on Canal Street, Nottingham — a building that was deemed no longer fit for purpose. It is the place where people who get arrested are detained, interviewed and investigated before being released or remanded into custody.
But for the people who live here, it is a neighbourhood "where you can hear police cars all the time" and "you can feel safe because officers are around". Mihaela Bucovineanu, a long term resident and mum living near the custody suite, added: "I feel like it is safer than before because there is more police here.
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"But I would not go out at night still. The problem is not those who are in custody - those cannot run away.
"It is about the ones who are still out there on the streets", the 48 year old added. "I sometimes wake up to blue flashing lights in the middle of the night.
"You can see police around here all the time. But still, at night, when I look out of the window I can see people fighting, or I can hear them.
"I do not have a problem with the custody being here - what can they do? You can feel safer I guess because there is more police here than before."
She added: "I avoid leaving the house though, and I keep myself to myself. Not because of the people who are in custody, but because of those who are dangerous and free."
Ms Bucovineanu works as a cleaner and came to the UK from Romania. Speaking in Romanian to Nottingham Post, she added: "I feel more vulnerable because I cannot speak English."
Billie Booth, also a cleaner in New Basford, added: "I am not scared at all that there is a new police custody suit here at all. If anything, I think it is good there is more police around."
The 19 year old added: "I think people worried about it at first - but then nothing has changed really. They thought it was going to be more crime - but now we have got more police around.
"It is a rough area, but you just get used to it. It is the same like anywhere else."
Josh Awa, who works at a car wash on Radford Road, added: "This area is very policed. We have a police station on Radford Road too."
The 39 year old said: "I do not think we are in any danger. You can hear sirens going off quite often, but that is a good thing - it means police are doing their job."
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