A TOP solicitor has blasted a multi-million pound police custody suite where prisoners are left 'rotting in cells'.

Ian Waites claims the centre, in Manor Park, which cost more than £5m to build and left residents fearful of crime, is no better than the Widnes version it replaced.

"The new custody suite is heavily under-staffed and consequently people were dealt with far quicker in Widnes in far less impressive conditions," he told Runcorn magistrates last week.

"People are left rotting in cells for literally hours and hours."

Mr Waites was defending 18-year-old Daniel Cosgrove, of Cunningham Road, Ditton, who admitted damaging a cell door while under arrest.

"There is no justifying criminal damage but people go absolutely delirious with boredom waiting and waiting for something to happen," he said.

Speaking after the case, Mr Waites, who works for Jones Roberston in Halton Lea, said others shared his frustrations that while the state-of-the-art facility had greater capacity, the system was failing due to simple issues such as case allocation and obtaining CPS advice.

"People who have been arrested but not convicted of doing anything wrong are spending hours in there," he said.

One example was a pregnant 16-year-old spending from 7.30am to 1.30am the next day in a cell before being charged for motoring offences.

"The impression is that despite the fact it is a good facility, the place is being run on a budget which is less than it should be to maximise it's potential," he added.

Chief Inspector Phil Wellings, who oversees the Runcorn custody suite and ones in Middlewich and Chester, defended the facility, which Cheshire Police boasts 'eventually' will be the 'best in the country'.

"I wouldn't say it was working perfectly but it is better than the old facilities and a much better environment for staff and prisoners," he said.

The Government's new Serious Organised Crime Act meant more people were being arrested under new powers that allowed officers to detain them for longer.

"We are continually looking at how we can improve the process and get them through and out the other end," Ch Ins Wellings said. "That is in everyone's interests."

Prisoners 'left rotting'