SMEARING the walls with faeces, smashing up CCTV cameras and headbutting desks — this is just some of the behaviour that goes on inside police cells.

Wiltshire Police have had to shell out hundreds of pounds to repair damage caused by vandalism attacks on Gablecross police station in the past two years.

The details, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that many of the incidents involve people detained in custody who have become frustrated at being held by police and have taken their anger out on the cells.

Only 16 incidents at Gablecross over the past two years have been released because the type of information is not stored in a way which allows for easy retrieval. The cases that have been released include a suspect tearing to shreds a police evidence book while in his cell, one gouging initials in a cell wall and another punching a CCTV camera.

On one occasion, a suspect head butted the desk, smashing a hole int it.

Wiltshire Police said that evidence from the estates manager would suggest that damage to Swindon Gablecross is minimal due to its damage-resistant design.

The force also said that a lot of minor incidents are not recorded as the correction of these is part of the Private Finance Initiative service.

Wiltshire Police’s strategic custody Chief Inspector Marion Deegan said: “The three Wiltshire custody suites have been inspected as part of a national programme undertaken by HMIC/HMIP.

“To minimise risk for detainees, staff and other visitors, there are routine and frequent checks carried out of custody premises to ensure continued compliance with Home Office guidelines.

"On occasions, in spite of our best efforts, damage is caused to police property either intentionally or accidentally.

"We have a robust system in place to identify and repair such damage, dealing with intentional damage as we would any other crime. “I am pleased to say that the level of damage to custody property is minimal."

Police did not reveal how much each incident cost the force.