§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the number of police who currently undertake escort duties of inmates from prison to courts; and what steps he is taking to encourage reallocation of this task.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggIn a report produced in July 1988, the police requirements support unit of the Home Office estimated, on the basis of a survey in four police areas, that the handling and escorting of prisoners to magistrates' courts cost the police in England and Wales more than £31 million per year. On the basis of the same report it has been estimated that approximately 1,000 officers per day are involved in this work.
517WAs my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 1 March at columns 277–78 further work is in hand towards contracting out the escorting, custody and control of prisoners with the aim of relieving both the police and prison service of this task.