‘SHABBY’ cells at Huddersfield police station are being refurbished as part of an initiative to improve custody standards.

The 16 cells beneath Huddersfield’s Castlegate police station are closed for the next six weeks to allow the work to be carried out.

In the meantime anyone arrested in Kirklees will be taken to Dewsbury or neighbouring police stations.

The temporary closure comes two months after a joint report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary which inspected all West Yorkshire custody facilities.

The report read: “Huddersfield suites were shabby and dull with several cells containing a large amount of graffiti and some with stains on the walls and ceilings which appeared to be the result of food, drink or bodily waste being thrown about and not cleaned up.”

Magdale was having none of it: “What a waste of public money.

“It is not as though it is a hotel trying to attract overnight guests and boost its appeal. “Custody should be a thoroughly unpleasant experience.”

But there are two sides to every story which is demonstrated (sort of) by putzfrau: “Be fair Magdale, not all people remanded into custody are hoodlums and idiots.

“I’m sure that anyone being locked up for relatively minor offences ought not to have to endure the excrement and vomit of previous internees.

“However, cells should not be comfortable overnight accommodation as you suggest’’

HuddersFax_resident was curious about cleaning arrangements: “I would ask the question of why the cells are being left in such a state anyway? If someone fouls a cell with vomit or excrement then they should be given a mop and bucket and made to clean it up.

“As to graffiti, how or why are these people being allowed in cells with pens or knives?

“There should be an automatic penalty for cleaning this mess up, but I’m sure its not as bad as people make out and only restricted to one or two inmates.”

He added: “I'd be happy if they were imprisoned in pig styes then maybe they wouldn’t be so happy to return to jail or re-commit ‘relatively minor offences.’”

WobblyRach was speaking from experience: “Overall, the cells in Huddersfield police station are not that bad. The toilets are grim though and there is a lot of graffiti in there, mainly on the doors.”

She added: “I’d probably grade Huddersfield Police Station’s cells as a seven out of 10.

“I’d have marked them higher if they were cleaned daily and that’d probably have meant this revamp wouldn’t have been able to improve things either.”