Newly Refurbished Suite Officially Reopened in Mirfield
3rd October 2019
A purpose built suite for vulnerable victims and their families has been refurbished and officially opened today.
The Vulnerable Victims Suite, which is located at Mirfield Police Station, on Knowl Road, has been refurbished and rejuvenated to help relax victims and their families as they speak to officers about their ordeals.
The work has taken around two months to complete and consisted of a re-wire of the building, new lighting, carpets, painting and decorating. The funding from Bright Spaces went towards new furniture, soft furnishings and toys for the suite.
It has been officially opened yesterday (Wednesday 2 October) in a ribbon cutting ceremony with representatives from West Yorkshire Police, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Bright Spaces attended.
Detective Inspector Alex Bacon, from Kirklees Safeguarding Unit, said: "People are coming to see us are often at a very difficult time in their life. They are arriving at the police station and reliving extremely traumatic events and we need to make their experience with us as bearable as possible.
"We need people to be comfortable with their surroundings and the feedback so far has already been good.
"We are very grateful for the funding from Bright Spaces, which has made this project possible. The work which has been carried out has made a real difference to the facility and looks fantastic."
Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said: "I was keen to support the work of Bright Spaces in helping to care for victims of crime and especially young people. Victims and witnesses are at the heart of the services we provide so anything we can do to make things better for them is to be welcomed. My thanks to Bright Spaces for a great job on this refurbishment and initiative. "
Tracy Wilkes-Green, the Foundation's Bright Space Manager, said: "We are thrilled to have opened this Bright Space for West Yorkshire Police, and hope that it will positively impact their work and keeping the children of West Yorkshire safe."