Written question asked by Dominic Grieve (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 November 2008. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Illegal Immigrants: Prisoners

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration offenders are in detention in (a) detention centres, (b) police cells, (c) prisons and (d) other institutions.

Answer: As at 28 June 2008, there were 2,315 persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers in Immigration Service removal centres and immigration short-term holding facilities. This figure is rounded to the nearest five and excludes persons detained in Prison Service establishments and police cells. It is only possible to provide information to indicate how many of those detained under immigration powers in prisons or other establishments are immigration offenders through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.National Statistics on detention are published annually and quarterly in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Control of Immigration which is available in the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:"http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html"

Secondary information