A DECISION on the location of custody cells in Salisbury and south Wiltshire will now not be made until May, a senior police chief has said.

Wiltshire Police launched a three-month review in December after announcing the force were looking at two custody units in the county rather than three.

In a statement released to the Journal on Monday, temporary assistant chief constable Paul Mills said work was ongoing, with conclusions being presented to the chief constable and commissioner in May.

Mr Mills, who is leading the review, said it was also looking at best practice in other police forces and "exploring opportunities" to work with partners on the "sharing of our estate" where it would bring benefits to both parties.

He said: "Wiltshire Police is making significant progress in reviewing its custody requirements. There are many factors being considered during the first phase of the review, including gathering hard data on crime trends as well as looking at the current demand and also potential changes in demand due to any population increases that may occur in some areas of the county.

“All of this work is essential to ensure that we make the right decision which is right not only for our existing requirements, but also for our needs for the next 15-20 years. Any conclusions and recommendations will be based on sound evidence and presented to the Chief Constable and Commissioner in May 2015.”

Wiltshire Police had been looking into placing a new custody suite in the Churchfields area of Salisbury following the closure of Wilton Road Police Station in June 2014.

However, on December 8, chief constable Patrick Geenty announced a feasibility study for the cells in Salisbury was "on hold" due to financial constraints.

Since June, prisoners have been taken on a 30-mile trip to Melksham.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said an announcement would be made following the completion of the review.