Under an agreement between NOMS and ACPO there is an upper limit to the amount the police may charge for the provision of meals for prisoners held overnight in police cells under Operation Safeguard. Forces may be paid up to £12 for each prisoner over a 24-hour period. Only under exceptional circumstances can this figure be exceeded.
NOMS is invoiced by police forces in arrears for the use of cells activated under Operation Safeguard. NOMS also receives invoices in arrears from contractors for use of court cells.
Expenditure on meals provided for prisoners held in police and court cells is not readily available from invoices submitted. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.