Prisoner Escorts

(asked on 28th August 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to resume the transportation of defendants from police custody to the Magistrates' court to allow the defendants to appear in person.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 8th September 2020

In April we provided clear guidance on Transportation and Transfer to all primary stakeholders, on the principles adopted by them and their suppliers to ensure the safe management of defendants presenting with suspected or confirmed Covid-19.

Although there has been an increase in Police and HMP Virtual Hearings the full service from Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) has continued, but with reduced volumes.

There has been no contractual change in relation to the production of defendants from police custody to magistrates’ courts. The payment mechanism is intended to ensure the availability of capacity and so a reduction in the number of prisoners handled has not resulted in a similar reduction in costs. There have been some savings due to the reduced demand. PECS suppliers continue to respond to and complete all requests for transporting a defendant to court within the parameters of the contract.

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