§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why Her Majesty's Prison, Bullingdon, returned a letter from Lord Avebury addressed to an Immigration Act detainee, Mr. E. J. Esemuze, marked "Discharged" when it was a matter of common knowledge that, as one of the "Campsfield Five", he had been transferred to Her Majesty's Prison Rochester. [HL2456]
§ Lord Williams of MostynMr. Esemuze was being held at Bullingdon prison on remand awaiting trial on charges arising from the disturbance which occurred at Campsfield House Detention Centre. He was taken to court on 17 June 1998, on which date the trial collapsed, resulting in Mr. Esemuze being effectively discharged from prison as he was acquitted of the charges on which he was being held. In fact, he was taken back into custody under Immigration Act powers and taken to Harmondsworth Detention Centre. He was then transferred from Harmondsworth to Rochester Prison on 18 June 1998, where he continues to be held as an Immigration Act detainee.
Prisoners' movements within the prison system are recorded on the Local Inmate Database System (LIDS). The LIDS system does not record disposals of prisoners from court. The LIDS system did not record the details of Mr. Esemuze's movements between prison custody and immigration detention and only recorded him as being discharged from court. Bullingdon prison received 125WA your letter after Mr. Esemuze had been recorded as being discharged, and therefore returned it.
It is regrettable that this process of events has resulted in a signficant delay in the delivery of your letter. However, I understand that the Prison Service has now forwarded the letter to Mr. Esemuze at Rochester Prison.