Written question asked by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Thursday, 22 July 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 July 1999. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 July 1999 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions in the past 12 months for which records are available the recommended period, in respect of persons held under Immigration Act powers, of five days in policy custody was exceeded by (a) extending, (b) renewing and (c) transferring a detainee from one station to another. - Inc fact that data cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Answer: Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the past 12 months for which records are available the recommended period, in respect of persons held under Immigration Act powers, of five days in policy custody was exceeded by (a) extending, (b) renewing and (c) transferring a detainee from one station to another. [93517] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Immigration (Places of Detention) Direction 1996 specifies that an individual may be detained in a police station for a maximum of five nights with an additional two nights only where Removal Directions have been set. However, current policy is to detain an individual in a police station for no more than two nights with the provision of an extension with the authority of an Immigration Inspector. Data on those detained in police cells for more than five nights, ie where Removal Directions are in place, cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs. However, the number is believed to be very small.

Secondary information