Police in Brandon and Winnipeg will be receiving funds from the province to improve detention facilities within their headquarters.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic both policing agencies have had to remand arrested suspects within their own facilities for extended periods of time. Those facilities were designed for processing prisoners before they were sent to provincially run remand facilities and not for extended stays.

The new funding will be used to enhance the Central Processing Unit at Winnipeg Police Service headquarters and Construct a new detention facility attached to the Brandon Police Service headquarters.

A total of $8 million will be spent on the projects with $4.4 million earmarked for Brandon and $3.5 million for Winnipeg.

“This funding will provide the BPS with the ability to construct a modern detention facility that will help ensure the safety of our clients, staff and the community we serve,” said Chief Wayne Balcaen,  Brandon Police Service.

The province also is providing the Brandon Police Service $200,000 from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund for training and equipment upgrades. As well Brandon Bear Clan will receive $25,000 for the purchase of a van through the fund.

© News4.ca 2020