CONSERVATIVE spokesman Mark Formosa has called for more investment to help police the streets of Taunton.

He said he wants Taunton to have a new and larger police station with more cells in which to hold prisoners, as well as bringing more police officers back from Bristol and other areas.

Mr Formosa spent a night on the beat with officers in the Holway area of the town to experience the problems faced by police.

Mr Formosa said: "Currently Taunton's police station can house just eight prisoners and if any more than that number are arrested, they have to be taken to Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare, or Bristol. A new, larger station would enable our local police to fight crime in Taunton more effectively.

"We also have a situation where council taxpayers in Taunton Deane are funding police officers who are taken away to work in Bristol and I want to end this injustice and bring them back to look after our local communities."

He added: "Our local police are very brave and work very hard to serve the community. It is such a shame, however, that the punishments that are given to criminals are so pathetic."