Wiltshire Police’s custody suite in Melksham has reopened after a £3.7m refurbishment.
The multi-million-pound investment was approved by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson last year to ensure the facility was fit for purpose and to provide a safer experience for detainees, staff and officers.
Following the closure of the police station on Wilton Road in 2014, Melksham is the site of the nearest custody suites to Salisbury.
Improvement works at the Melksham facility have included newly refreshed cells with Qibla pointers for Muslim detainees, autism-friendly colour schemes, and higher security observation doors for detainee and staff safety.
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The custody suite first closed on in February 2023 and the closure was originally forecasted to only last eight months. During the interim, Wiltshire Police has processed all detainees at Gablecross Custody in Swindon.
Mr Wilkinson said: “Investment to ensure a safer environment for all and to future-proof police facilities and estate is necessary to ensure Wiltshire Police can continue to provide the best policing service it can to our communities.
“As with any building works, challenges arose which meant the building remained closed for longer than originally anticipated but we were able to use this opportunity to bring forward additional planned refurbishment options into this phase removing the need for further closures.
“Wiltshire Police now has a custody suite which is fit for the 21st century.”
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