Police must provide adequate care in custody suites

The failure of the Metropolitan Police Service to provide adequate healthcare provision within police custody suites has seen a dramatic increase in ambulances being called out to police stations in every part of London.

Commenting on the figures released in response to a written Mayoral Question, Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, said:

“The huge increase in ambulances called out to London police stations in just four years is a clear demonstration that the Met is failing to provide adequate healthcare provision within its custody suites.

“It is an alarming situation when ambulances are routinely being called to police stations, putting additional pressures on our stretched ambulance services. This also means the Met is tying up the time of its own police officers who need to escort detainees to hospital, often having to wait many hours with them at busy A&E departments.”

“The Met needs to get its own house in order and provide comprehensive medical care in its custody suites. It is wrong that another blue light service is having to pick up the pieces.”