New £1.6m police base with specialist victim interview suites opens in Torquay
The new police base, in Torquay, provides two modern video interview suites for victims and witnesses of domestic and child abuse, sexual abuse and other serious offences, aiming to provide a welcoming and safe environment where they feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
Pomona House was officially opened on Friday, 30 October, by Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernadez and Chief Constable James Vaughan who cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.
The new police base, in Torquay, provides 2 modern video interview suites.
Victims and witnesses of domestic and child abuse, sexual abuse and other serious offences from across Torbay will come to Pomona House to be interviewed by specially trained staff.
The purpose-built facilities aim to provide a welcoming and safe environment where victims and witnesses feel comfortable sharing their experiences, helping investigators gather vital evidence and bring offenders to justice.
Interviews will be video-recorded discreetly, allowing the evidence to be presented in court without requiring the victim or witness, particularly if they are vulnerable or a child, to attend in person.
The suites are located on the ground-floor, promoting accessibility for all visitors and are equipped with the latest technology.
Each suite is made up of a waiting room, an interview room and a monitoring room.
The waiting and interview rooms have been designed with both adult and child victims and witnesses in mind, prioritising a welcoming and comfortable environment through soft furnishings, artwork and some smaller, child-friendly furniture.
There will also be books for children to read while they wait for their interview, helping to put them at ease.
Chief Constable James Vaughan explained this further and said: “This suite and new facilities that the Commissioner has invested in at police headquarters at Middlemoor provide warm, welcoming, comfortable and world class facilities for victims.”
“When victims come to us having been the victims of serious crimes, such as sexual crimes, child abuse and other very serious crimes, they should come into buildings that are warm and welcoming.”
He added: “That could lead of course to increased trust in people reporting crimes to us which we always want to hear so hopefully it will give people the confidence to come to us because they know they will be in good hands and taken good care of when they come here.”
South Devon Police Commander Chief Superintendant Roy Linden seconded this and said: “When you walk through that door it's an obvious police building, that was really deliberate on our part, but you should feel relaxed.”
“The estates teams have used the most up-to-date academic evidence of what environment makes people feel comfortable, as well as from a policing side, what enables us to record the best evidence?”
He explained that the artwork on the interview rooms walls serves a practical purpose, doubling as soundproofing to improve the audio quality of video recordings played in court and ensure jurors can clearly hear what is being said.
Roy Linden also spoke about the importance of creating an inclusive environment that caters to the different needs of victims and those supporting them.
He said: “It's welcoming for those who support our victims, the intermediaries, the people who support language issues and those who support those who are learning disabled.”
“This should be seen as the blueprint.”
The facilities are not only designed to improve the experience of victims and witnesses but also to support the staff who work with them.
Around 100 specialist officers will be working in the building, including those from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Public Protection Unit.
Pomona House provides a modern, collaborative space where these officers can share expertise and work together more efficiently and effectively.
James Vaughan said: “This building is particularly special because it's a hub of specialists, bringing together officers and staff who have particular skills in dealing with particularly violent and serious crime.”
“It’s really important that our staff who do this work every day work in modern and well-equipped buildings so that they can do their job professionally”
Alison Hernandez, Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “It’s really important that we value the staff because the people who are working in here are dealing with some of the most horrible, heinous crimes that happen in our communities.”
“We are really grateful for their work and we want them to feel valued and we want them to come in the next day with their chin up and their head held high.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner invested £1.6 million into this building , which James Vaughan said: “shows the level of commitment and investment the commissioner places behind providing good facilities for us.”
The opening of Pomona House marks a significant investment in policing across Torbay.
The new suites are expected to play an important role in supporting victims and witnesses through difficult experiences, while helping officers gather vital evidence to bring offenders to justice in a modern and welcoming facility.