Crooks Could Pay For Stay In Cells

[Standard Dave]

Criminals could pay up to £200 for each night they spend in police cells.

That's the idea of police authority chairman Coun John Clarke.

He has written to Home Secretary John Reid asking for the power to bring in the charges.

Coun Clarke said: "Every weekend our custody suites are at bursting point with drunken yobs and other offenders.

"Custody officers have to clear up after them and feed them like they were in a hotel.

"Well, in a hotel you get charged for your stay, and that is exactly what should happen to those who end up in custody who are later convicted by a court."

He has raised the idea as a way of recouping the £135 cost of holding an offender in custody for one night.

All those charged and later convicted with any type of offence would be made to pay the fee, as well as people cautioned for alcohol-related offences.

Human rights groups and lawyers have savaged Mr Clarke's idea.

Ash Bhatia, a senior partner at Bhatia Best, said: "The idea is crass, valueless and ineffective.

"The cost of recovering the fees that offenders simply won't be able to pay would far exceed any money generated."

Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the only grounds for pursuing a payment for a prisoner is if they damage custody suite property during their stay.

Nottingham Bridewell is the busiest custody suite in Europe, with 23,000 prisoners using it each year.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We won't comment on this idea until we have seen in writing what Mr Clarke is proposing."

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/di...7&voteOption=1

[lesta311]

I could agree with that if they billed them after a court found them guilty of the offense and if it didn't incur any other drain on resources to recoup the money. 135 pound does seem a bit steep,though. Maybe they treat their criminals better than we do.

[jmur5074]

Our Co. Jail charges $65.00 a day for inmates who are under sentence.

That still doesn't cover the cost of ONE day....but it's something.

[bird1]

all we give them is a bolony jam sandwich. maybe we should start charging them for it.

[Ducky]

Bologna jam? Is that supremely gross, or am I missing a reference?

[bird1]

Bologna jam? Is that supremely gross, or am I missing a reference?

bolony jam sandwich. take two pieces of bread some bolony & jam them together. no mayo or mustard of course

[Ducky]

Ahhh, so they get the same thing I wind up with for lunch most days. Considering I don't even get to take a break for lunch, then yeah, charge them for it. Bread and bologna aren't free.