HC Deb 07 March 1984 vol 55 cc586-7W
Sir John Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on remand were confined in Loughton and other Metropolitan police stations within the Epping Forest district at the beginning of the months of January, February and March 1983; and whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is satisfied with the conditions of confinement.

Mr. Hurd

The number of prisoners held in police cells at Loughton police station was as follows:

Number
1 January 1983 nil
1 February 1983 nil
1 March 1983 6

Chingford and Waltham Abbey police stations have not been used to hold prisoners.

The commissioner recognises that prisoners held in police cells do not receive all the facilities to which they would normally be entitled in prison. Nevertheless, the police are, under very difficult circumstances, seeking to provide the best possible conditions.