§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether remand prisoners will be held in police cells in London in the coming year;
(2) what additional resources will be provided to the Metropolitan police service to ensure adequate facilities for and security of prisoners held in police cells in London.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is not possible to give any assurance that remand prisoners will not be held in police cells in London in the future. A number of urgent measures are being taken to accommodate the ongoing rise in the prison population without resorting to the use of police cells.
In the event that prisoners have to be held in police cells, the arrangements for reimbursement of expenditure incurred by police forces in providing adequate facilities and security are set out in Home Office circular 36/1993 to clerks to police authorities and chief officers of police, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.