THE COST of keeping a suspect overnight in a police cell costs more than a stay in a luxury hotel suite.

Figures obtained by the Echo under a Freedom of Information request, show Dorset Police have spent almost £8 million over the past two years on keeping suspects in custody cells.

If someone is detained in custody for 24 hours, the total individual cost for Dorset Police is £441.

That is more than a one night stay at the Hilton Hotel in London.

In the year from April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2015, Dorset Police spent £3,929,958 on keeping 12,600 suspects in custody suites in Bournemouth, Poole, Sherborne,Shaftesbury,Weymouth and Bridport, .

Weymouth and Bournemouth are the force's only two 24-hour custody suites, but Poole is often used if they are both full.

In the previous year, from April 2013 until March 31 2014, the force spent almost £4m keeping 10,861 suspects in the cells.

This shows that the force actually saved £25,865 in the last year even though the number of people kept in custody suites rose by almost 2,000 people.

While it is not known how long each individual spent in custody or the total cost of each individual, Dorset Police confirmed that the average cost of a 24-hour custodial stay was approximately £441 per person.

The figures show that the first eight hours of a suspect's stay costs a total of £151.99 which includes staff costs, the price of accommodation, bedding and meal costs.

Every eight-hour period thereafter costs £289.05.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the reason for the high cost was because the force was responsible for a suspect's security and safety if they were detained.

The spokesman said: “To compare a person’s secure detention in a custody cell with a luxury hotel stay is inappropriate and crass, as the circumstances are completely different.

"While people held in our custody have not chosen to be there, Dorset Police is responsible for ensuring that they are held securely and that a high quality of care is given to them.

"Also, custody enables officers to progress investigations by gathering evidence and conducting interviews. This increases the chance to solve crimes.

"To facilitate a 24-hour secure and safe environment highly trained and qualified staff, as well as specialist required equipment and medical care arrangements, are in place.

"A total of 70 staff work in the two custody suites in Bournemouth and Weymouth. Most detainees do not stay 24 hours and have specific welfare needs. The suites are manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

"Police forces have to follow a stringent set of procedures in custody suites to ensure that no one is hurt while secured. This is an expensive process, that members of the public will understand we need to take.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said custody was a necessity, and a person could be detained to protect somebody from harming others or themselves, and to help the police launch an investigation.

He said: “Costs are based on the necessary services and resources needed to protect the individual whilst in custody, including staffing and food.

“Police are highly trained to work in a secure setting and the associate costs can never be compromised.

“As the chairman of the Independent Custody Visiting Association, I am aware more than most of the importance of the United Nation's conventions on maintaining a person’s dignity and safety whilst they are in custody.”

Dorset Police said 70 staff work in the two custody suites in Bournemouth and Weymouth, which are manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Police Federation chairman for Dorset Tony Tester said the figures were not a shock.

He said: “The large amount of people we deal with have to be taken into custody because there is violence involved, whether that is to the police officers or the public.

“Taking someone into custody is not done lightly. Does it surprise me? No it doesn’t.

“Custody is an area where there is risk involved. It’s more a necessity than a luxury. Custody is front line policing."

He said that the force couldn’t reduce custody provisions in the area any further.

A breakdown for the costs was provided by Dorset Police.

Staff costs for the first eight hours of a suspects detention were £146.41, with accommodation and bedding costing £3.24, and meals costing £2.34.

For every subsequent eight hours, staff cost another £274.24, accommodation and bedding cost another £10.91 and meals cost another £3.90.

The force also said there was a variety of further costs that they could not provide exact figures for, which included costs for uniforms, cleaning, custody suite maintenance, medical prescriptions, medical staff, first aid equipment, health and safety equipment, technical equipment such as CCTV, furniture and stationary such as forms and pens.