Speaking today, Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust said:

“Use of police cells is a clear indication that the prison estate is in crisis. Police cells are a safety valve and are at best only a short term emergency measure. They can hold prisoners, but can do little to change them.

This initiative is a waste of police time. Clear up rates are unlikely to increase if police are taken away from their main task. The best way of reducing crime is to increase the likelihood of offenders being caught.

The Government’s strategy for dealing with crime should be proactive, rather than reactive. It needs to encompass crime prevention and the promotion of community sentences for all but the most serious and persistent offenders. Far greater use should be made of tagging, Drug Testing and Treatment Orders, fines and the full range of community penalties.”