§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of the health and safety standards in Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court cells. [187075]
§ Mr. Leslie[holding answer 9 September 2004]: Custody facilities at courthouses are audited by the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) at regular intervals against current standards of health and safety, decency and security. On 2 June 2004, a PECS audit concluded that the Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court cell complex meets basic health and safety standards.
However, access to the cell area fails to meet the established security standards because there is no van dock and there is no direct access to the custody area from the courtrooms. In order to reduce risk the number and type of hearings with defendants in custody at the courts has been reduced. This allows the custody officers a greater degree of control over each custodial defendant brought before the Court.