§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many arrests have taken place in(a) Chorley, (b) south Ribble and (c) west Lancashire in each of the last three years; to which custody suite were arrestees taken; and how many went to Magistrates court; [100383]
(2) whether the extension to police cells at south Ribble will change the cells' status; [100384]
(3) how many custody suites are operated by Lancashire police; how many cells are in each; and where they are; [100382]
(4) how many police cells have been taken out of action in Lancashire in the last 12 months; [100385]
(5) what the timescale is for re-opening police cells that have been closed in Lancashire. [100388]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 3 March 2003]: I understand from the Chief Constable of Lancashire that there are nine custody suites operated by Lancashire Constabulary. These are located in Blackpool (30 cells), Lancaster (nine cells), Fleetwood (eight cells), Leyland (eight cells), Skelmersdale (17 cells), Preston (22 cells), Greenbank (36 cells), Burnley (16 cells) and Colne (eight cells).
Lancashire Constabulary intends to add about six cells to Leyland police station (South Ribble) within the next couple of years. It will retain its status as one of only two custody suites in Lancashire designed as suitable for the detention of terrorists and other Category A prisoners.
I will ask the Chief Constable of Lancashire to write to the hon. Member about the number of police cells taken out of action in Lancashire in the last 12 months.
The detailed information requested about arrests in Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I understand from 1089W Lancashire Constabulary that around 2,500 to 3,000 people per annum are arrested in each of these three areas.