Custody shows what happens to ‘prisoner’ Ben Gardner following his arrest for burglary.

The film highlights the high-tech facilities now available to aid police investigations and promote prisoner welfare.

This includes sophisticated ‘life-monitoring’ equipment in cells and forensic links with the Police National Database to immediately identify criminals wanted elsewhere in UK.

Filmed and produced by Norfolk Constabulary on location at Wymondham Police Investigation Centre (PIC), on the outskirts of Norwich, the movie also illustrates what can be achieved when police forces pool budgets and resources.

The PIC is one of six brand new police custody centres to be opened across Norfolk and Suffolk, processing detainees from both counties as well as some from the neighbouring counties of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

The films launch coincides with the fifth joint custody centre to open at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk on Thursday 8 July.

Anne Campbell, head of Corporate Communications for Norfolk and Suffolk police, said: “This is an original film which not only sheds light on life behind bars in a modern police custody centre but also highlights the innovative collaboration work being undertaken by Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies.

“It’s a low-budget product produced entirely by Norfolk communications staff but one which we hope will be of benefit to a wide audience, with the potential to be used as educational tool in schools.”

Following his arrest, ‘Ben Gardner’ is taken into custody where he is:

• Filmed by a network of CCTV cameras.

• Checked under an ultra-violet light for evidence of high-tech security marking fluid SelectaDNA linked to other crimes.

• Booked in and stripped of his personal possessions and any potentially dangerous items of clothing.

• Swabbed for DNA to be checked on the Police National Database.

• Photographed for police records.

• Questioned by a specialist custody investigation PC before being locked up in one of the new cells.

Custody is launched on Norfolk Constabulary’s YouTube page on Monday 4 July and can be viewed at www.norfolk.police.uk/custody

A marketing campaign on the social networking site Twitter in the lead up to the launch asked followers ‘Who is Ben Gardner?’ before revealing his fate.

Any enquiries about the film can be directed to webteam@norfolk.pnn.police.uk