ONE NIGHT IN POLICE CELLS COSTS MORE THAN A WEEK IN THE CANARIES

10.58.00am GMT Wed 6th Feb 2008

New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that the Government is spending £459 per night every time a police cell is used to house a prisoner, more than the Government's own estimate of £385, and more than a week-long stay in a Canary Island holiday villa.

Last year, 60, 953 prisoners were housed in police cells under Operation Safeguard at a total cost of £28m. Nearly £4.6M of that was spent on cell space in London 's police stations.

Lib Dem campaigner Meral Ece says,

"This is another expensive mistake from the Labour Government. If police cells are full, the police can't take violent offenders off our streets.

"There are better ways to tackle prison overcrowding, like more use of community sentences for non-violent crime. The Government should put offenders to work to pay back society; not make taxpayers pay out even more for housing them."

The statistics, revealed in a parliamentary answer to Lib Dem Justice Spokesperson, Jenny Willott MP, show how much each police force invoiced the Ministry of Justice for costs incurred under 'Operation Safeguard' - the Government's contingency plan to deal with prison overcrowding.

Full details of the costs are available at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-01-23b.179090.h&s=section%3Awrans+speaker%3A11480#g179090.q0

For more information contact Meral Ece, 07949 678 597