§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the functions of P5 division of his Department; and in what circumstances this division liaises with the police.
§ Mr. MellorP5 division forms part of the directorate of operational policy in the prison department of the Home Office. Its role is to carry out various duties in relation to the following: prison security and control, the effective use of prison accommodation, policy and casework on unsentenced prisoners, fire precautions in prison department establishments, the transport of prisoners to court and between establishments, the security of custody areas in Crown court buildings, the production of prisoners at court in certain circumstances—for example, where a prisoner is a party to civil proceedings — planning for emergencies, prison statistics and the management of the prison dog service. In many of these functions there is naturally close liaison between the division and the police.