§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fatalities have occurred in police custody units in each of the past 10 years. [86978]
§ Mr. BoatengDeaths in police custody units are included in the statistics for deaths in police custody or otherwise in the hands of the police. During the period from 1991–92 to 1994–95, such deaths were tabulated on a financial year basis for the Metropolitan Police and a calendar year basis for the rest of England and Wales, with the result that no national annual totals are available for that period. The figures for the last 10 years are as follows:
Year Metropolitan police Year Provinces Total 1989 37 1989 36 73 1990 20 1990 41 61 1991 24 1991 36 60 1991–921 21 1992 33 — 1992–93 18 1993 18 — 1993–94 16 1994 36 — 1994–95 15 1995 39 — 1995–96 13 1995–96 37 50 1996–97 18 2 39 57 1997–98 12 1996–97 57 69 1998–993 17 1997–98 49 66 1998–99 1 Change to financial year basis includes some figures previously counted in 1991 2 Change to financial year basis includes some figures previously counted in 1995 3 Provisional figures
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of supervision is required in police custody units. [86979]
§ Mr. BoatengSection 36 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides that one or more custody officers shall be appointed for each designated police station. No officer may be appointed a custody officer102W unless he is of at least the rank of sergeant. An officer of any rank may perform the functions of a custody officer at a designated police station if a custody officer is not readily available to perform them.
Guidance on the interpretation of "readily available" was given in the report of the Steering Group on Custody Officers which was circulated to Chief Officers and to Police Authorities in July 1993.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions which apply to police custody units. [86977]
§ Mr. BoatengThe principal statutory provisions relating to police custody units are contained in Part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued concerning the centralisation of police custody units. [86976]
§ Mr. BoatengIn July 1993, the Home Office circulated to Chief Officers and to Police Authorities the report of the Steering Group on Custody Officers, which included the recommendation that each chief officer who had not already done so should review the provision of designated stations with a view to rationalising custody facilities.