Custody capacity and overspill procedures

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.041903

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. How many custody suites are there under MPS control, and how many cells do they have in all?
2. And what are the procedures for when this police custody capacity is exceeded?
3. How was it managed when 1130 extinction rebellion activists were arrested simultaneously?

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many custody suites are there under MPS control, and how many cells do they have in all?

The MPS maintains 31 suites of which 22 operate 24/7. The MPS has a potential capacity of 742 cells of which 590 are in use 24/7.

Q2 - And what are the procedures for when this police custody capacity is exceeded?

The MPS like other police forces use mutual aid agreements to house detainees in other areas outside the MPS.

Q3 - How was it managed when 1130 extinction rebellion activists were arrested simultaneously?

We can state that it was not necessary to use mutual aid for detainees during the Extinction Rebellion protests.