The term police station has one meaning, "a station that serves as headquarters for police in a particular area or locality." It serves as a place from which policemen are dispatched and to which arrested culprits are brought. A police station is the central reporting point of a locality's police force, or unit, which serves a specific district. These buildings basically contain offices, various accommodations for their officers and their vehicles, such as locker rooms and a maintenance garage. Apart from this, they may also contain temporary holding cells and interview or interrogation rooms. Alternate terms may also include precinct or precinct house for regional facilities of the New York City Police Department and various other urban police departments in the United States. District offices used by the California Highway Patrol, and substations with more than one facility used by the county sheriff forces are also termed as police stations. The work of law enforcement includes a lot of detailed paper work. As such, records, files and other important data need to be preserved properly in a central location. A police station performs the function of preserving and maintaining all the documents and records. It houses the officer's belongings and may also be equipped to hold a limited number of arrested prisoners. Apart from maintaining law and order, police stations also perform the role of educating the citizens on matters regarding individual safety precautions. Many police stations also contain books, journals and other reference materials that can be viewed by the general public for obtaining information on various topics related to law. The police station also houses complaint receipts from distressed citizens. Police stations are strategically located in states to exercise their control over a particular locality or area. The area covered under the jurisdiction of a particular police station depends on the population of that area and the intensity of criminal activities present. |
