HC Deb 01 December 1986 vol 106 cc485-7W
Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women, both on remand and sentenced, were held in police cells in England and Wales on 1 November and for each succeeding day, to the latest day available.

Mr. Mellor

The number of women prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales from 1 November 1986 onwards was as follows. Records available centrally do not distinguish between untried and sentenced prisoners.

November Number
1 73
2 77
3 77
4 82
5 75
6 86
7 83
8 68
9 58
10 58
11 67
12 67
13 74
14 70
15 69
16 65
17 65
18 69
19 75
20 81
21 87
22 93
23 93
24 98
25 102
26 109
27 86
28 87

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest period that a female prisoner has been held in police cells in the current year.

Mr. Mellor

This information is not readily available and could only be ascertained at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of women aged under 21 years who have been held in police cells during 1986.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested is not recorded centrally.

Establishment Certified normal accommodation Population on 28 November 1986
Her Majesty's prison Holloway 247 358
Her Majesty's prison and Her Majesty's youth custody centre Styal 237 279
Her Majesty's prison and Her Majesty's youth custody centre Bullwood hall 120 146
Her Majesty's prison Cookham Wood 120 120
Her Majesty's prison Askham Grange 134 111
Her Majesty's prison Durham H Wing 39 38
Her Majesty's remand centre Pucklechurch 56 81
Her Majesty's remand centre Risley (female wing) 92 123
Her Majesty's prison and Her Majesty's youth custody centre Drake Hall 252 246
Her Majesty's remand centre Low Newton 35 42

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total number of women held in prison establishments in England and Wales at the latest date available; and what it was on 31 December 1985 and 31 December 1984;

(2) what is the total number of women held on remand in England and Wales at the latest date available; and what it was at 31 December 1985 and 31 December 1984.

Mr. Mellor

The total number of women and the number of unsentenced women held in prison establishments in England and Wales on the dates requested, which are not strictly comparable, was as follows:

Date Total Unsentenced
31 October 1986 1,567 334
31 December 1985 1,476 345
31 December 1984 1,359 320

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of women sentenced to a period of imprisonment during 1985;

(2) what was the total number of women sentenced to a period of imprisonment for a crime of violence during 1985;

(3) what was the total number of women aged under 21 years sentenced to a period of imprisonment during 1985.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested is published in "Criminal Statistics: England and Wales, 1985" (Cmnd. 10) and the supplementary volumes. Table 7.20 gives numbers sentenced by age group and table S1.1(A) and 2.1 (A) give numbers sentenced by offence group.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the certified normal accommodation and the number of women actually held for each of the following establishments for the latest date available (i) Her Majesty's prison Holloway, (ii) Her Majesty's prison Styal, (iii) Her Majesty's prison Bulwood Hall, (iv) Her Majesty's prison Cookham Wood, (v) Her Majesty's prison Askham Grange, (vi) Her Majesty's prison Durham H Wing, (vii) Her Majesty's prison Pucklechurch, (viii) Her Majesty's prison Risley, (ix) Her Majesty's prison Drake Hall, (x) Her Majesty's prison Low Newton, and (xi) Her Majesty's prison Sutton Park.

Mr. Mellor

On 28 November 1986 the certified normal accommodation and total female populations of the establishments requested was as follows:

Establishment Certified normal accommodation Population on 28 November 1986
Her Majesty's prison and Her Majesty's youth custody centre East Sutton Park 74 75
Total 1,406 1,619

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of women remanded in custody during 1985 and subsequently either found not guilty, not proceeded with or given a non-custodial sentence.

Mr. Mellor

The available information is published in table 2.4 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (Cmnd. 9903).

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women with no previous convictions were given a prison sentence during 1985.

Mr. Mellor

The available information is published in tables 3.5 and 5.3 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (Cmnd. 9903).

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