Police want a mobile cell block to deal with overcrowding

Bedfordshire Police are considering buying a "bendy bus" cell block to relieve pressure on police stations.

The police authority meets on Friday to decide whether to buy the special vehicle with six cells on board.

There are currently only 47 cells at police stations in the whole of Bedfordshire and at busy times there is often a problem with overcrowding.

If the plan goes ahead a driver would be on call to take the mobile cells to police stations where there was the most need.

Fingerprint facilities

At other times it would probably be kept at Ampthill police station.

The cells - or mobile custody suites - have interview rooms, fingerprint facilities, toilets and a kitchen.

The vehicles resemble the bendy buses often seen on city streets.

Because of security factors, they would be used by low-risk suspects who would only be locked up for a maximum of six hours.