Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of cells holding both convicted and unconvicted people in custody.

Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including index offence, health concerns and security information (such as beliefs and prejudices). There are benefits to some prisoners sharing cells for the positive impact it has on mental health and stress levels, in addition to many prisoners preferring to share a cell.

Unconvicted prisoners should be held in separate accommodation from convicted prisoners where Governors consider this can be reasonably done. Cell sharing is permitted between unconvicted and convicted prisoners if the unconvicted prisoner’s consent has been obtained.

As at Friday 28th August, 2,866 cells/rooms (which were certified to hold two or more prisoners) were holding both unconvicted and convicted prisoners. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.