Police stations tested for mould

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Police stations tested for mould

Bermuda Sun - Bermuda

http://www.bermudasun.bm/main.asp?

SectionID=24 & SubSectionID=270 & ArticleID=31519 & TM=46036.02

Mould forced hundreds of children out of their school this week, now

it's affecting police officers.

The same type of toxic mould that prompted the Government to shut

CedarBridge Academy has been found at Southside and looks to be

causing problems at Prospect and Hamilton police stations, too.

Carl Neblett, the chairman of the Bermuda Police Association,

confirmed reports on ZBM earlier this week that mould shut down the

forensics unit in St. 's about five weeks ago, forcing about a

dozen officers to relocate to Prospect.

He said: " Some further information was relayed to us that there were

similar issues in two other buildings, the Hamilton Police Station

and parts of Prospect.

" Bermuda Water Consultants have now been asked by the Bermuda Police

Service to conduct indoor air quality inspections at all police

buildings. "

The poor state of the island's police buildings are well documented

and government has been talking about building a new 'super station'

and courthouse down Court Street for years to replace the one on

Parliament Street.

Mr. Neblett said: " The Hamilton Police Station was always considered

to be a temporary station when officers moved in there in 1979 but

they're still here today. "

There has been some movement on the project but it's not been fast

enough. " The bottom line is we need a new building, " Mr. Neblett

said, adding it's a credit to officers that there are still willing

to work in the grim settings.

The BPA has met with the Commissioner, , who is said

to understand the severity of the problem and is anxious to find

solutions. In the meantime, contingency plans are being worked on in

case officers have to be evacuated to other buildings.

CedarBridge Academy meanwhile is in the midst of a major cleanup

after teachers complained of feeling sick, which they blamed on

mould. Education chiefs were hoping the school would be safe to use

after next week's half term. If it's not, the kids will have to be

taught at the old Berkeley Institute site down Berkeley Road.