§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the statement in the report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the problem of deaths in police custody will not be alleviated until provision is made for detoxification centres to be established in the Metropolitan police district, he will take steps to establish such centres.
§ Mr. MellorWe are reviewing our policies towards the treatment of drunkenness offenders, but the case for providing detoxification centres—which are primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services—or simpler overnight shelters is not clearcut. We have no present plans to establish any centres in the Metropolitan police district.