HAMPSHIRE Police have been paying rent on a costly custom built office suite at Penns Place in Petersfield for seven months – and so far the facility hasn’t been used.

And it will stay empty until a secure telephone and internet line is installed, something the office of Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane is still trying to progress with BT.

The suite is in the East Hampshire District Council building, and the Petersfield Neighbourhood Police team was supposed to move in last October.

It includes an interview room, an office with work stations, a secure room, showers, and it’s own entrance, with dedicated car parking outside.

Officers were due to move in after the Police Station in St Peter’s Road was sold last September to Petersfield Museum.

Both Hampshire Police and the district council agree a lease agreement is in place; the council also says the police have been paying rent on the unused suite since October.

But neither would say how much rent was being paid, or had been already, saying the information was “commercially sensitive.”

Neither could a date be given for the BT work to be completed so the police team could move in.

In the meantime Petersfield, one of the largest towns in East Hampshire, remains without a dedicated police base.

Officers commute to the town from Waterlooville each day, and use Petersfield fire and ambulance stations for toilet and refreshment breaks.