Thames Valley Police are the only force in the UK without CCTV cameras in its cells, officers have revealed.

The announcement was made to the Thames Valley Police Authority, which must decide whether cameras should be fitted in all its custody suites.

Chief Constable Peter Neyroud said: "Recommendations from Government are saying it is essential to have CCTV in custody suites.

"We are the only force that doesn't have it and clearly it is not an acceptable situation.

"We are in the middle of a custody refurbishment programme and if we are going to put in CCTV, it would make sense to do it all in one go."

Cost estimates for putting CCTV cameras in cells have yet to be worked out.

Wendy Coates, a police authority member, said: "What happens if there is a death in custody?

"There have been contentious deaths in Slough and I think it will be a high risk for the authority if we don't do it."

Constant CCTV surveill- ance of cells could help prevent deaths like that of homeless Gordon Grant, 45, in 2002.

Mr Grant was arrested for being drunk and incapable and choked on his own vomit in cells in Abingdon.

An official investigation found there had been no negligence by police officers, who had checked on Mr Grant every 15 minutes.

Thames Valley Police have already started a major cell building programme to help meet the Government's national target of getting 1.25m offenders brought to justice by April 2008.

That will mean 100,000 people a year going through Thames Valley cells, an increase of 20,000 in about four years.

Abingdon Police Station will have the largest custody suite in Oxfordshire with 33 cells. St Aldate's Police Station in Oxford, which has 17 cells, will get a £600,000 facelift. A £1.1m upgrade of Banbury's custody suite is already under way.