THE new system of transporting people who are arrested in the city centre has come under criticism for the distance people have to travel.

When the police station in Salisbury closed it was decided that anybody who was arrested in the city centre would be taken 30 miles to Melksham for custody.

The police stress that this is only a temporary measure until a new custody station is built in Salisbury.

However, building is yet to begin on the new project.

For Nick Redhead, who is a solicitor in the city, it is causing both him and his clients problems.

He said: “It has made life very difficult and I only dread what it will be like in the winter when I will have to drive through the ice on the Salisbury Plain.

“When they are bailed they are left in Melksham to find their own way home unless a kind police officer gives them a lift back.

“But the main problem comes when a person has to return if they have been bailed.

“Some of them do not have enough money to make it to Melksham and the public transport is not very good.”

He added: “When the station first shut we were told it would only be 12 months until a new one opened but then the police said 18 months and now they have gone silent.”

Inspector David Minty said: “Wiltshire Police are committed to building a purpose built custody unit in Salisbury.

“This is the best we can do for now but we are going against what other police forces are doing around the country who are opting for more centralised custody stations.

“We are aware of the issues but it is just a temporary solution. But one thing it does mean is that it keeps more uniformed police officers on the street.

“They will hand over to a custody sergeant on the street and not have to go back to the office to do any paperwork.”