HC Deb 13 January 1994 vol 235 cc274-5W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) prisoner officers will be freed from escort duties in the Metropolitan police district as a result of the service being contracted out to Securicor Custodial Services Ltd.; and how the time of the officers so released will be used.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Approximately 335 full-time equivalent prisoner officer posts are engaged on court escort and custody duties in the Metropolitan police district. The phased loss of a total of 250 prison officer posts is planned during the first year of the court escort and custody service in the Metropolitan police district. These posts will be those currently employed on court or escort duties at the prison establishments affected. The aim is that posts will be lost through natural wastage and transfer and that there will be no redundancies.

The remaining 85 posts will be retained at London prisons where they should enable regime improvements to take place. The Metropolitan police will similarly have a phased reduction in staffing of 271 police officer posts and 47 civilian staff posts by 1996–97. It is for the Metropolitan police to decide on the use of the time of its officers freed from this responsibility.