‘People feel that justice has left our town’

The Oldham police station. Image courtesy of Geograph/Paul Anderson

A local MP is calling for a justice centre to return to Oldham more than 10 years after its courts were shut down and later demolished. 

Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP Jim McMahon is urging for ‘once in a generation’ changes he claims could restore faith in policing and the criminal justice system – in a place where ‘people feel justice has left town’. 

The area’s facilities have drastically dwindled over the past 15 years, with Oldham Magistrates’ Court closed down in 2016, as well as police stations and desks closed in Failsworth, Royton and Chadderton. 

Plans to replace GMP’s ‘crumbling’ headquarters in the town centre were met controversy earlier this year as it emerged they would not include custody cells. 

It meant police would have to travel up to an hour to book suspects in elsewhere.

Mr McMahon said he has met with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, deputy mayor Kate Green; head of estates at GMP Peter Bannister; and Oldham council Leader Arooj Shah in a ‘constructive meeting’ about restoring a justice centre in the town and securing a custody suite for the new HQ. 

The MP wrote: “This is a once in a generation chance to secure a new Oldham police station and get the facilities our borough deserves. 

“It’s one thing to end the ‘Oldham Premium’ – which means due to poor parking, it costs more to attract officers and staff with the current police station – by getting our Oldham GMP team the facilities they deserve to be able to best tackle crime & antisocial behaviour.

"It’s a whole other thing to bring back a wider justice centre with court space and custody cells so we can truly bring local confidence back to our policing and justice system.

“Much more is needed to be done to make people feel that their community in Oldham, Chadderton and Royton feels like a safe place.

"We have been campaigning for this new police station for years, and having a renewed justice centre alongside it as a possibility makes our fight all that more important.”

GMP declined to comment, but previously said it was in in contact with local authorities while plans for the new police station were taking shape.

No specific details about the new station have been released. 

The LDRS understands stakeholders are considering whether to relocate the office or refurbish or demolish the current building on Barn Street.

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