Transporting an arrested individual and data on Police stations

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.034678

I note you seek access to the following information:

Please provide the following information:

1. The average time it takes for police to transport someone who has been arrested to a vacant cell in the last calendar year.
2. How many cells are currently available per BCU?
3. Since 2016, what percentage of the number of cells available to the Met has decreased (calendar year)?
4. How many stations are still operational but do not have a front counter and which boroughs are they located in?
5. How many of the current 36 stations have been marked for future closure?
6. A list of the current 36 police stations that are operational and which BCU they are part of.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - The average time it takes for police to transport someone who has been arrested to a vacant cell in the last calendar year.

We do not hold information about travelling time. We have time of arrest and time of arrival but this is not accurate data.

Q2 - How many cells are currently available per BCU?

We have 601 cells available across the MPS. Cells are allocated to nearest location first.

Q3 - Since 2016, what percentage of the number of cells available to the Met has decreased (calendar year)?

The number of cells has reduced by 90 cells since 2016. 3 suites closed in 2016, 2 suites in 2017 and the final in 2018.

Q4 - How many stations are still operational but do not have a front counter and which boroughs are they located in?

Recorded information for Front Counter closures goes back to 2005. There are 41 current operational buildings where publically accessible front counter facilities previously existed, but are no longer open. Please see refer to spreadsheet below tab Q4 Former FCs for the details of these properties.

Q5 - How many of the current 36 stations have been marked for future closure?

All property disposals have been paused pending completion of the wider Estate Strategy review

Q6 - A list of the current 36 police stations that are operational and which BCU they are part of.

Please see refer to spreadsheet below tab Q6 Current FCs for the details of the 36 current operational Front Counters.