Police Cells (Hansard, 18 November 1991)

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current cost of keeping a prisoner in a police cell for one night.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The current average daily cost of keeping a prisoner in a police cell is £221.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prisoners held in police cells on the last day for which figures are available.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
On 15 November, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,640 prisoners were held in police cells.

§ Mr. Shersby
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost for the most recent 10-year period for which figures are available of keeping remand prisoners in police cells; and what is the comparable figure for keeping them in prisons.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The costs for each complete financial year since 1981–82 of holding prisoners in police cells are given in the table.

Financial year Actual cost £ million

1981–82 —

1982–83 3.4

1983–84 10.8

1984–85 3.4

1985–86 2.2

1986–87 6.2

1987–88 24.9

1988–89 64.9

1989–90 12.4

1990–91 53.5

In 1990–91 the comparable cost of holding the prisoners in Prison Service establishments would have been £14.8 million. Figures for previous financial years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Financial year	Actual cost £ million
1981–82	—
1982–83	3.4
1983–84	10.8
1984–85	3.4
1985–86	2.2
1986–87	6.2
1987–88	24.9
1988–89	64.9
1989–90	12.4
1990–91	53.5