THERE is still no interview room in the police base in Maldon more than three years after it was opened at the district council offices in Princes Street, a meeting heard last night (Thursday, 22 October).

In a local police performance update from Chief Inspector Scott-Haines to the Maldon District Council's Crime and Disorder Committee, he told the members how he met a council director two weeks ago to look at a different area in the offices and was hopeful that it would provide a place where the interview room could be established.

Chief Insp Scott-Haines also outlined his hope that the Maldon community policing team, currently working out of civic offices in Chelmsford, would be able to move more fully to the base in the town. He confirmed that the new space identified at the council buildings would allow for more locker room to help that happen.

And he added that he would now "go with begging bowl in hand" to senior police colleagues to get the interview room in place.

The news on the interview room came after Independent Councillor Mark Heard asked: "I know that a year ago you spoke about the space within the council offices and talked about having the addition of an interview room. Is that now in place, please?"

It also emerged that signage pointing members of the public from the old police station at the top of the High Street towards the new police base had not been put in place as the police building had been sold on before it could be done.

However, the promised emergency telephone outside the council offices will soon be there, the committee heard.

Chief Insp Scott-Haines said: "I am just waiting for a workman to do it."