Councillors Criticise £23m Salisbury Police Station Plans Without Custody Suite

Plans for a new £23m police station near Salisbury have been criticised by councillors, who say leaving out a custody suite could waste police time and public money.

The proposed Southern Policing Hub at Old Sarum is intended to provide a new base for policing in South Wiltshire, but the current plans do not include facilities for holding people who have been arrested.

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson has defended the proposal, saying the force cannot currently afford to build a custody suite as part of the project.

However, he said the police are buying around six acres of land at Old Sarum, which would leave enough space for a custody facility to be added in the future if the force's funding position changes.

Councillor Paul Sample has strongly criticised the plans, arguing that officers will continue to spend valuable time transporting people who have been arrested to custody facilities outside Salisbury.

He said officers travelling with detainees are unavailable to respond to other incidents, potentially leaving fewer police resources available in South Wiltshire.

Salisbury has been without its own custody suite since the facility on Wilton Road closed in 2014 as part of a programme of cuts.

Since the closure, people arrested in the Salisbury area have been transported to custody facilities in Melksham or Swindon, with Melksham almost 29 miles from Salisbury.

The issue has remained controversial among local councillors, particularly as plans for a new police facility have been discussed for many years.

Councillor Chris Taylor has questioned why the former Salisbury police station could not have been refurbished. The building was later converted for use as Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning.

Councillor Sample has also argued that the former custody facilities were already well equipped and included modern cells.

Concerns about the impact of the closure have previously been raised by the Police Federation, which warned that the distance officers had to travel with detainees could affect policing and arrest decisions.

New figures show the issue remains significant. Between July 2025 and June 2026, 302 people arrested in Salisbury city centre were taken to custody suites in either Melksham or Swindon, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

Councillor Taylor said the figures raised concerns about whether officers are being forced to consider the practical consequences of making an arrest because of the additional time required to transport a detainee.

Councillor Sample said he believes any new police development in South Wiltshire should include a custody suite.

He warned that without one, police officers could continue to lose valuable time travelling outside the area, while millions of pounds are being invested in new facilities without solving the underlying problem.

Mr Wilkinson has maintained that the current proposal is the most affordable option for the force, while stressing that the land being purchased could allow a custody facility to be developed in the future.

The Home Office has said Wiltshire Police will receive a record level of funding this year, adding another dimension to the debate over how the money should be spent.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has also pointed to Wiltshire's relatively low crime rate, while emphasising that every crime still matters to victims and communities.

The proposed Southern Policing Hub is expected to become an important part of policing in South Wiltshire, but the absence of a custody suite is likely to remain a key concern for councillors and residents as the plans progress.