HC Deb 09 May 1995 vol 259 cc383-4W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoner nights were spent in police cells in(a) 1979, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) the last year for which figures are available; and on what date he expects to eliminate the use of police cells. [21268]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 9 May 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many prisoner nights were spent in police cells in (a) 1979, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) the last year for which figures are available; and the date on which it is expected that the use of police cells will be eliminated. Figures for the number of prisoners held in police cells have been collected centrally since 1980. The information available on how many prisoner nights were spent in police cells for 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1994 is given in the following table:

Year Number of prisoner nights spent in police cells
1980 235,425
1985 16,425
1990 241,835
1994 54,277

The use of police cells is currently confined to the north west of England. The provision of 260 new places at Buckley Hall prison on 1 May and the return to use, following refurbishment, of a further 217 places at Manchester by 28 May, should end the use of police cells this summer.