North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has said he hopes the development will improve efficiency and the force's response to crime.

Mr Brunstrom says the whole of north Wales will benefit

The facility in St Asaph will provide a new base for the forces' central division which is currently in Llandudno, provide office space for 300 employees and a 32-cell custody suite.

The plans also include a force wide incident room to help co-ordinate all major investigations and a scientific support facility which will analyses information from crime scenes.

It is the first time North Wales Police have used money raised through a Private Finance Initiative as opposed to government money to fund a project.

Building these facilities is another vital step in making sure that the North Wales Police have the very best equipment possible in the fight against crime

Malcolm King Police Authority

The force's chief constable Richard Brunstrom has said the new HQ will help tackle crime.

"This is an excellent facility equipped with the latest technologies to help us to fight and respond to crime more effectively and efficiently.

"The whole of north Wales will benefit greatly from such a development."

North Wales Police force serves 600,000 people in a mixed urban and rural setting.

The expanse of the geographical area policed by officers can be extremely demanding.

Members of the North Wales Police Authority have said that the Welsh Development Agency business park alongside the A55 is the ideal location for the new site.

The authority's chairman Malcolm King, said: "Building these facilities is another vital step in making sure that the North Wales Police have the very best equipment possible in the fight against crime."

The divisional headquarters, which is made up of three buildings, is expected to be completed by January 2004.