Law-abiding citizens can spend a day in the cells when Sutton police station is opened to the public later this month.

Families will be able to gain a rare glimpse into modern policing methods during organised tours on Sunday, September 20.

CID units and parks police will explain their specialist roles, and there will be attractions including drugs dogs and vintage police cars.

Because the station is next to the Serious Crime Division regional office, murder squad officers will also be in attendance.

Borough Commander Guy Ferguson said: “It’s important that local residents are able to see how we work.

“Policing works best when residents, communities and the police work closely together - and this open day is all about being open and improving our relationship with the public.

“We want everyone to know we are out in the borough every day doing exactly what’s expected of us: catching criminals and making Sutton even safer.”

The free open day is the latest initiative devised by Inspector Richard Hall, the new citizen focus inspector, who is promoting a more people-focused policing style.

He said: “This is an unprecedented chance to see how we work across the whole spectrum of police work.

“It’s rare indeed that we open our custody suite because it’s usually only for those who have been arrested.”

A Sutton police spokesman said guests would also be shown Breathalyser equipment and the CCTV room, where walls of screens capture images from Sutton Council-funded cameras around the borough.”

The event, at the station in Carshalton Road, is open to all and runs from 11am to 4pm, with last entry at 3.30pm.