USE OF WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE CELLS COST TAXPAYER £935K
January 29, 2008 8:01 PM
Latest figures show that the practice of using West Yorkshire police cells to house prisoners has cost the taxpayer just under £935,000.
Latest figures show that the practice of using West Yorkshire police cells to house prisoners has cost the taxpayer just under £935,000.
In total the government has spent over £28 million on bills to house prisoners in police facilities. Under the scheme 'Operation Safeguard' the Ministry of Justice housed a total of 60,953 prisoners in police cells last year in an effort to deal with a shortage of prison spaces.
Cllr Marchington, Lib Dem spokesperson for Community Safety in Kirklees, has hit out at the news.
Cllr Marchington said "The sheer cost of housing prisoners in police cells is unbelievable. Here in West Yorkshire alone the invoices sent to the Ministry of Justice total over £900,000.
"Police cells are not designed for convicted prisoners.
"The government's lack of a clear prison policy is costing us dear. It is time the over crowding crisis was sorted out. The money that has been spent on this expensive short-term fix could have been used to pay for effective crime prevention and efforts to cut re-offending rates."
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