POLICE are poised to move into a new multi-million pound headquarters at Chafey's Lake in Weymouth.

The move to the new headquarters is due to begin next Monday. The complex is part of a £25 million revamp of Dorset Police's bases in the west of the county.

The base, on the Granby Industrial Estate, will be home to the force's western divisional headquarters. It will also feature a new police station to cover Portland and the west of Weymouth. The west Weymouth police section is currently based on Portland.

Facilities at the site include a helicopter pad for the force helicopter, facilities for the police dog section, a new custody suite, and vehicle workshops.

Chief Inspector Tony Dymott, operations manager for Dorset Police's western division, said: "The new buildings will provide police officers with an improved working environment. The stations will also be better for the public to visit and should make the police more visible. "Facilities have been improved and the stations have been purpose built with the latest in information technology equipment."

East Weymouth will be getting a new police station next to the existing station in Dorchester Road. Changes are also being made in Dorchester and Bridport. Dorchester's Weymouth Avenue police station is being revamped.

A new police station in Tannery Road, Bridport is replacing the old station in St Andrew's Road.

The move to all the new buildings is due to take place during the week of January 14. A police station is also due to open at the Southwell Business Park on Portland in the next few weeks. Six officers will be dedicated to policing the island, backed up by patrols from the main base at Chafey's Lake.

There will also be boundary changes, with police in east Weymouth focusing mainly on the town centre and west Weymouth concentrating on residential areas.

The project is being financed through the Government's Private Finance Initiative. The Home Office is backing the project with £25 million over the 30-year life of the contract. Norwest Holst/WS Atkins won the contract for the police scheme.