A NEW police base has been set up in the centre of York.

Mill House is the new city centre base for the Safer Neighbourhood Team in North Street, and will allow an inspector, 11 officers, PCSOs, and 15 special constables to work directly from the centre of York, rather than from the force's Fulford Road station.

North Yorkshire Police has taken out a lease on the ground floor of the building for 30 years, and the facility replaces the Clifford Street site, behind York Magistrates' Court, which suffered flood damage and is no longer fit for purpose.

Officers moved into the new premises more than two months ago, but The Press was asked not to report on the new station until it is officially opened this week.

Superintendent Phil Cain, Safer Neighbourhood Commander for York, said the move meant officers could respond quicker to incidents in the city centre, but the station is not open to the public.

He said: “This is a positive move for the team covering the city centre. It means that we have the team in the right place to provide the public and businesses the highest level of service.

"Moving offices was an operational necessity as the old station on Clifford Street was no longer suitable for the modern policing environment. The building was subject to flooding, which causes disruption to policing the city centre. The length of the lease taken on the premises demonstrates our commitment to ensuring we are able to provide policing services in the city centre for the future.”

It is unclear how much the new lease has cost the force, but the official opening comes just weeks after the cancellation of plans to build a new £10m headquarters for North Yorkshire Police in South Kilvington, in favour of sharing existing facilities with Cleveland Police.

Mill House is not open to the public, but anyone wishing to see a police officer in person can make an appointment by phoning 101, or visit the police station on Fulford Road.