§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost was of holding prisoners in police cells in 2002; [141643]
(2) how many prisoners have been held in police cells so far in 2003. [141644]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 3 December 2003]Prisoners are not routinely held in police cells as a result of overcrowding. When population pressures result in police cells being used, it is under an arrangement between the Prison Service and the police called "Operation Safeguard". Operation Safeguard has not been used since 2002 (between 11 July and 20 December 2002).
The average daily cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell during 2002 was £363 per person per night. The total cost of holding prisoners in police cells in 2002 was £10.4 million.
There are occasions where prisoners have to be accommodated in police cells because the escort contractor cannot deliver them to the receiving prison before its reception closes. There is an on-going arrangement with many police forces, known as "Lock-outs". These are entirely separate arrangements from Operation Safeguard. This arrangement is sometimes used to facilitate the return of prisoners to court the next day or when a court hearing extends into the evening. The average daily cost of holding a prisoner on Lock-out is currently £120 per person per night. The total cost for Lock-outs in 2002 was £1.356 million.
The total cost of holding prisoners in police cells under both Operation Safeguard and Lock-outs in 2002 was £11.756 million.
No prisoners were held under Operation Safeguard in 2003. There were a total of 982 prisoners held in police cells as Lock-outs in 2003. In addition, eight prisoners were held in police cells in the Greater Manchester area on the weekend of 7–8 June 2003, as an emergency measure, following a disturbance at HMP Whealstun, which resulted in a temporary loss of accommodation at the establishment. These prisoners were not held under arrangements for Operation Safeguard or as Lock-outs.