Surrey police appeal council's custody suite decision

The force has four custody suites in Guildford Staines, Woking and Reigate

Surrey Police has lodged an appeal against a local authority's decision to turn down plans to build a fifth custody suite in the county.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council rejected the proposal to build the 30-cell custody suite in Salfords in June.

But the force said after "months of careful consideration" it had decided to lodge an appeal.

It said its current custody suite at Reigate police station, which serves east Surrey, was too small.

'Not taken lightly'

Det Supt Ray Blythe said: "In addition to it not coping with existing demands the current provision actually reduces the amount of time officers spend patrolling the streets.

"I want to reassure the local community that we do understand their concerns and this decision to appeal has been given very careful consideration and has not been taken lightly."

The force has four custody suites in Guildford, Staines, Woking and Reigate.

Under its revised plan, the force has agreed to reduce the size of the proposed suite from 30 to 24 cells.