Jail to court costs reduced in Londonderry

THE appointment of Prison Custody Officers (PCOs) reduced the cost of bringing prisoners to court in Londonderry and Fermanagh and Tyrone which at £200 and £212 per inmate respectively is still the highest in Northern Ireland.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Oct 2011, 11:44 BST

DUP MLA Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice David Ford to detail the cost of bringing a prisoner to court following a Production Order in each court division.

In 2008/9 and 2009/10 in Londonderry the cost was £266 but this has since been reduced to £200 following the appointment of PCOs instead of Prison Officers who were paid more.

In Fermanagh and Tyrone the equivalent reduction was from £281 to £212.

Mr Ford said the figures referred to the charges levied by Prisoner Escort and Court Custody Service for prisoners involved in a civil action.

He explained: “These costs are based on staffing for vehicles and vehicle running costs only. The reduction in costs from April 2010 is due to the appointment of PCOs to provide this service instead of Prison Officers, and the consequent reduction in salary costs.”