§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what facilities are available for those female prisoners who are held in police cells, who would otherwise have been remanded in prison;
(2) if he will list the number of female prisoners held in police cells, in each of the last six months, who would otherwise have been remanded in prison; which police stations they were held in; and for how long.
§ Mr. MellorThe number of female prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales on each Friday since 1 August was as follows. Full details of where each was held and for how long and of the facilities available at each location are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. We are conscious that prisoners in police cells do not receive the full range of entitlements that would apply were they in prison custody; nevertheless, the police are doing their best to provide whatever facilities they can under circumstances.
Date Number 31 July–1 August 62 7–8 August 33 14–15 August 45 21–22 August 38 28–29 August 41 4–5 September 40 11–12 September 39 18–19 September 46 25–26 September 57 2–3 October 55 9–10 October 66 16–17 October 61 23–24 October 72 30–31 October 73 6–7 November 83 13–14 November 70 20–21 November 87 27–28 November 87 4–5 December 93 11–12 December 110 18–19 December 116 25–26 December 59 1–2 January 65 8–9 January 74 15–16 January 107 22–23 January 89