§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been cleared from police cells in the last month; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdSince 15 October, well over 1,000 prisoners have been taken out of police cells in to prison establishments, and the number of males held in police cells in the south-east has reduced from almost 1,150 to just over 500. The planned movement of prisoners from police cells into prison establishments has been affected by a further substantial increase in the prison population but work continues. In the north region an average of 155 male prisoners has been locked out each night, but the conversion of Hindley from a youth custody centre to a remand centre will resolve this.