POLICE CELLS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A NIGHT AT THE RITZ

12.00.00am GMT Sun 15th Mar 2009

New figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have today revealed that the Government spent £853 every time a police cell was used to house a prisoner.

These figures show that the actual cost is more than double government's own estimate of £385, and more than a night's stay in the Ritz.

The statistics revealed in a Parliamentary Answer to Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, Paul Holmes MP reveal 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.

Commenting Paul Holmes MP said,

"The Government's incompetence in managing our prison system is staggering and has left the taxpayer picking up a huge bill.

"Ministers have severely and consistently underestimated the knock-on costs of prison overcrowding. For £853 per night, you could stay in the Superior Suite at the Ritz.

"The Government has put us in this hopeless position by failing to plan for the future while putting record numbers behind bars in an effort to appear tough on crime.

"They have reintroduced this desperate policy once and saw the costs soar, will the taxpayer face more soaring bills should this be introduced as a result of a recession crime wave?

"Rather than spending public money sensibly on our police forces and sensible measures to reduce reoffending, the Government were content to waste vast sums of taxpayers money on a desperate attempt to find short term places to house prisoners."