PLANS for a new custody unit in Salisbury are “on hold” as the county’s chief constable warns the city may never get one again.

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

Since June prisoners have been taken on a 30-mile trip to Melksham but the police stressed it was just a temporary measure until a new custody suite was built in Salisbury.

In April Mr Geenty said he would resign if the city did not get one. Speaking at a meeting of the Criminal Court Users Group, Mr Geenty said that despite the proposed custody suite not making “sense in business terms”, the city needed one, adding: “I’m not going to be known for closing the custody suite in Salisbury on my watch - I can reassure you that a custody suite is being built.”

But today he announced the decision to put on hold a feasibility study on the new custody unit, saying at the time of his comments he was not aware of all of the “financial challenges” the force faced.

He said: “I will not be resigning – I did make those comments to demonstrate my determination to ensure there was a suitable custody suite for Salisbury and my views on that have not changed but I must deal with the ongoing reality that the force faces.

“Over the next three years we expect to have to achieve savings in excess of £3 million per year.

“I have instigated a review of all our custody provision in the county and I think the force will be looking at two custody units rather than three.

“Given that there will always be one in Swindon, we will be looking at where best to locate the second one.

“I’m disappointed to have to put the Churchfields site on hold – I would have liked to go through with three custody suites and this decision has not been taken with any great pleasure at all. I understand the strong views of people in Salisbury.”

At present, Wiltshire Police has custody units at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon and at Melksham Police Station.

Mr Geenty said: “Between £4 million and £5 million has been ringfenced for a new custody facility – I have got to be absolutely certain that’s the right place to locate it.

“I must stress that we remain absolutely committed to providing a custody unit that will serve the central and southern parts of the county. The work we’ve already done as part of our feasibility study for the Churchfields site has been extremely informative and helped us to visualise and create a blueprint for a new, efficient custody unit.”

The three-month review is to be led by the temporary assistant chief constable Paul Mills and will be independently verified.

Wiltshire Police said it will take into account a number of factors and considerations, such as the “changing patterns and falling rates of crime in the county”, the “projected population growth in certain towns across the county within the next few years, including the impact of the return and re-housing of service families to Wiltshire” and its “strategic partnership” with Wiltshire Council to introduce increased use of mobile technology.

An announcement on the location of the custody suite is due to be announced at the end of February.