§ 21. Mr. Pittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions he intends to make within the Metropolitan police district to obviate the necessity for prisoners on remand to stay for long periods of time in police stations.
§ Mr. MellorWe are taking all possible steps to increase the effective capacity of prison accommodation in London and the south-east, where the present difficulties have arisen, by transferring prisoners to prisons outside the metropolitan area and by various other measures.
§ Mr. PittIs the Minister aware that on one Monday night two weeks ago 288 people could not be remanded to proper prisons? Is he further aware of the considerable concern in the Metropolitan police district about the number of prisoners who have to be remanded in police stations? Does he not therefore agree that it is about time that magistrates' and Crown courts were encouraged to remand in custody only those whom it is absolutely necessary so to remand?
§ Mr. MellorI have no reason to think that that is not the case. It is not for me to lecture the judiciary on individual cases as to who should be remanded in custody. Having regard to the concern felt by the public of London, including, I imagine, the hon. Gentleman's constituents, about offences committed by people released on bail, I think the hon. Gentleman should be cautious before he tries to lecture.
§ Mr. DubsCan the Minister tell the House how many police officers have been taken away from their jobs of catching criminals to guard prisoners in police and court cells?
§ Mr. MellorNot without notice. The hon. Gentleman knows—I respect his interest in this matter—that we 394 have been doing all we can to reduce the problem. The hon. Gentleman also knows that building new prisons takes time and the consequences of the refurbishment of old prisons on which we have embarked means that some wings must be taken out of commission while they are worked on, which, of course, poses short-term accommodation problems.