The PFI partnership aims to ensure that Greater Manchester Police facilities meet the needs of modern policing to provide members of the public with the most effective and efficient service available.

The new police station is the third of 17 new police facilities being built on 16 sites in Greater Manchester.  The facilities will include a variety of area headquarters, deployment stations and a new traffic Headquarters in Eccles.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said:  "Our police service does an incredible job every day and is at the heart of the Government's aim of building safer communities.  Officers and staff here in Greater Manchester are working hard to reduce crime, and the results are beginning to show.

"We are serious about tackling crime and to build on this success we need to make sure that people have the tools to do the job.  Investment in modernised work places will see improvements in police effectiveness.  This brand new police station has the first class facilities and working conditions that we believe people on the front line deserve."

Michael Todd, Chief Constable of GMP, said:  "We want to ensure that all of our officers have the most up-to-date facilities available to help them deliver our aim of 'fighting crime, protecting people'.  For the first time in many years all of the Patrol, CID and Community Officers policing Wythenshawe will be working out of the same building and I think that is vitally important to help us provide the quality of service that people want to see.

"GMP is already seeing significant successes in reducing crime and with buildings like this in the heart of Greater Manchester's communities, we will continue to build on those successes."

Derek Osbaldestin, Acting Chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority, said:   "Greater Manchester Police Authority has worked hard to ensure the best possible facilities are available to our police service.

This new Wythenshawe facility is just the latest development stage in a significant period of new investment.  These new buildings are already contributing to the creation of a more modern, better-equipped Greater Manchester Police."

Richard Weston, Managing Director of Equion said: "Equion is extremely proud to be working on this ambitious project to transform police facilities throughout Greater Manchester. We have worked closely with our partners at the GMPA and Greater Manchester police to ensure that all 17 new stations will provide the right facilities and support services to allow the police to carry out their jobs to the highest standard.

Wythenshawe is the third station to be completed and we are confident that this station and the others will make a real difference to policing in local communities."

Wythenshawe police station has been built to provide an improved policing facility for Wythenshawe, including a modern reception area, a vehicle response centre, a major incident suite and police dog kennels while offering a good geographical location central to the South Manchester division.

Note To Editors

Exterior and interior images of the new Wythenshawe police station are available from Greater Manchester Police Public Relations on 0161 856 2284.

Media Enquiries for Greater Manchester Police to Vanessa Loney, 0161 856 2284 or 07796 335 749.

Media Enquires for Greater Manchester Police Authority to Ian Andrew, 0161 793 3157.

Media Enquires for Equion to Christine Jones, 020 7901 3200.

Issued by Vanessa Loney, GMP Public Relations, 0161 856 2284.