HAVING read the report by Elizabeth Kemble following an interview with Angus Macpherson, the Police and Crime Commissioner, I was in serious danger of bursting my recently-fitted new aortic valve out of pure frustration at his response to concerns about the closure of the custody facilities at Salisbury.

Unlike Mr Macpherson, I actually served as a police officer in Wiltshire, my last posting being Salisbury and more recently, having left the force, worked in criminal defence, a complete contrast to my previous employment.

I have watched with sadness the gradual erosion of the policing of our city over the years, the first, I recall, was the moving of the crown court to the New Street building.

This turned out to be inadequate and not fit for purpose for many reasons that I will not elaborate upon.

Our “experts” then decided that it would be more of a benefit to have our crown court, magistrates’ court and county court all under one roof and nearer to the Wilton Road Police Station.

This was difficult to argue against and the present court was built, no doubt at great expense.

I cannot remember exactly when, but it was around this time that or slightly before, the cell block, now known as custody suite, was completely rebuilt and modernised at Salisbury Police station, but I do recall that during its construction there was much disruption to all concerned.

This, of course, included the police, lawyers and prisoners or potential prisoners.

The good thing about this was, however, that once the new cell block was completed, prisoners could easily and quickly be transported to court at minimum expense to the public purse.

I have had the privilege of working with both His Honour Judge Keith Cutler and Mr Richard Griffiths, both of whom have vast experience over many years working within the criminal system, both for the prosecution and defence, and I firmly believe that if they have expressed concerns about the way the authorities are behaving then we should all worry. How dare the concerns and opinions of both of these men be questioned?

The article written by Annie Riddle was about the most accurate that I have read in recent times and I support her views on this matter fully.

To state that Mr Macpherson is patronising is far more polite a word than I could use.

David Fisher

Saddlers Mead

Wilton