Innocent have-a-go hero in cells for ten hours

As a former traffic warden and store detective with two police commendations to her name, Wendy Challis-Jones is all too familiar with tackling lawbreakers.

So when the 39-year-old spotted a man chasing a teenager who had stolen his bicycle, she instinctively waded in and carried out a citizen's arrest.

But moments later when police arrived on the scene she was arrested by an officer on suspicion of assault.

Miss Challis-Jones was said to have attacked the youth while grabbing him from the stolen bike. Instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt and taking her details pending further investigation, the stunned motorist was locked up in a police cell for 10 hours.

She was treated in the same way as the criminal suspect she caught.

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Police refuse to chase 'helmetless' bike thieves

A mother has spoken of her fury after police refused to chase her sons' stolen motorbikes — because the thieves weren't wearing helmets.

Pauline Nolan, of Droylsden, Greater Manchester, claims traffic officers told her they could not pursue the pair in case they fell off and sued the police force.

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Force will keep open just four of its police stations to save cash.

A police force has been given the go-ahead to close all but four of its stations to the public. Wiltshire Constabulary hopes to save £500,000 a year by replacing the public inquiry desks with local “contact points”.

The 30 contact points that will replace closed inquiry desks are likely to be small booths in high streets and shopping centres but with limited opening hours compared with police stations.

Cath Hollands, chairman of Wiltshire Police Federation, said: “I fear this is the thin end of the wedge towards closing and selling off police stations. These contact points are only going to be open a couple of hours a day whereas the inquiry offices are open around 12 hours.

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