Three hot meals a day with a choice of menu and drinks. That is what is on offer to people detained in police stations in east Kent.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that the force in this area spent £19,062 on supplying food and drink to its prisoners between April, 2007, and April, this year.

And with 8,916 people arrested over the same period, that equates to £2.13 per person.

The figure is among the lowest in Kent - the highest is £43,197 spent in north Kent, covering Dartford and Gravesham.

Steve Seabrook, a finance officer at Kent Police, said detainees were offered three hot meals each day, along with a choice of drinks including water, tea or hot chocolate.

Vegetarian options, as well as meals for those with special dietary requirements, are also available.

He said: “All the food is brought in by the same company and the specification for the meals is set by the Home Office. There are about six or eight meal options like lasagne or curry. The all day breakfast is quite popular.”

He added: “There is no canteen - food would be brought to their cells and the jailor goes round and asks what they want. Food can also be brought in by relatives but it has to be checked.

“The whole object is to make sure people are fit and well and they can be moved through the judicial system.”

Figures for east Kent for the previous two years are: 2005/6, £16,712, 9,187 arrests; 2006/7, £19,720, 9,013 arrests. The force has already spent £11,194 since April, this year.

Last year the whole Kent force spent £149,997.