PCC's Open Letter to residents about Police custody in the city

Dear Residents, Councillors and all interested in policing in the south of the county,

Few issues generate as much public discussion about policing in south Wiltshire as custody.

I understand why.

Many people remember the custody facilities that once operated in Salisbury and believe that bringing custody back to the city would represent a significant improvement for local policing.

Recent coverage and debate have understandably reignited those views.

If money was no object, I am sure most communities would argue for having every policing facility as close to home as possible. Myself and the Chief Constable would be joining them.

But my responsibility as Police and Crime Commissioner is to make decisions based not only on what people would like to see but use the advice and guidance from Wiltshire Police about what operationally needs and what represents the best use of public money.

The current position is straightforward. Based on operational assessments and advice from the Chief Constable, there are currently no plans to include a custody suite within the Southern Policing Hub proposals.

Wiltshire Police continues to operate custody facilities in Swindon and Melksham, and current operational advice does not identify a third custody unit as a policing priority for south Wiltshire.

That is not because custody is unimportant. It is because policing resources are finite and every investment decision has consequences.

A custody suite is not simply a building. It requires significant specialist staffing, dedicated operational support and ongoing running costs.

Previous assessments undertaken by Wiltshire Police indicated that a third custody facility would require additional custody sergeants and detention officers while operating at relatively low utilisation levels compared with existing facilities.

The reality is that everyone would like more policing facilities, more officers and more investment.

But policing nationally, and locally, is operating in an increasingly difficult financial environment. There isn’t additional money coming from Government, Wiltshire is one of the lowest-funded forces in the UK and the current funding model expects local communities to pick up more and more of the policing bill each year.

As Police and Crime Commissioner, I have a responsibility to ensure every pound raised from local taxpayers delivers the greatest possible benefit for public safety.

The question therefore becomes whether tens of millions of pounds should be spent on building and operating a third custody unit or whether that money is better invested in frontline policing, neighbourhood teams, response officers, specialist capabilities and visible policing within our communities.

My view is clear. People want to see officers on the streets, faster responses, more visible neighbourhood policing and a police service that is equipped to tackle the issues that matter most to them. Those priorities must come first.

And that is precisely why the Southern Policing Hub has been designed around supporting neighbourhood, response and specialist policing teams.

The purpose of the facility is to strengthen frontline policing capability, improve operational effectiveness and provide modern facilities that help officers and staff serve our communities more effectively.

Importantly, the absence of a custody suite now does not mean the door is closed forever.

One of the reasons the land at Mitre Way, Old Sarum, was selected is because it provides flexibility for the future. The site is large enough to allow future expansion should operational requirements change.

If future policing demand, operational assessments or funding arrangements justify custody provision in south Wiltshire, the land exists to allow that conversation to take place and custody could be located there if planning permission were granted.

This is not a decision against Salisbury. Nor is it a decision against custody. It is a decision about priorities.

At a time when policing finances remain under pressure, I believe local people would expect us to make decisions that maximise frontline policing, protect officer numbers and provide the greatest value for taxpayers.

My focus remains on ensuring south Wiltshire has the modern policing facilities it needs today while retaining the flexibility to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

That is exactly what the Southern Policing Hub is designed to achieve.

Yours faithfully, 

Philip Wilkinson, OBE

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner