Red faces at police station theft

An MP has predicted "red faces" after a policeman's private car was stolen during the day from Arundel police station in West Sussex.

It follows a fire at the town's fire station in 2006. "The ambulance service nearby must be wondering what is going to happen to them," Nick Herbert said.

On Thursday, the Arundel and South Downs MP told the BBC he would be asking about security at the station.

Police said a man had been arrested and bailed after the theft on 22 May.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the officer parked his car when he came on duty on 22 May, but it had gone when he went to go home.

"We are looking at whether there was a break-in," he said.

He added that the car was recovered later, in the vicinity of Arundel.

He was unable to say what hours the officer was working that day.

"It partly gives cause for humour but it does raise some questions about the security of these places," Mr Herbert said.

He said: "You couldn't make it up.

"When the fire station burnt down we were told it wasn't necessary to have fire alarms in fire stations which I thought was bizarre.

"Now we have had a police station broken into and a car stolen, and I think the ambulance station nearby must be wondering what is going to happen to them next."

He said he would be asking about security at the police station on Thursday and said: "I imagine there are going to be some red faces."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6707269.stm