§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the imposition of leg-irons and solitary confinement on two Europeans who escaped from Mombasa jail is a customary form of punishment; how many Europeans and non-Europeans, respectively, have been in leg-irons, manacles or have endured similar forms of punishment in Kenya prisons during the past 12 months; and if he will consider advising the Kenya Government to discontinue this practice.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsLeg-irons and similar restraints are used not as a punishment but to prevent a violent prisoner hurting 2288 himself or to restrain a prisoner suspected of contemplating escape. Solitary confinement may be awarded as a punishment for certain classes of prison offences. I am asking the Governor for the information requested in the second part of of the Question and will write to my hon. Friend when I have his reply. As regards the last part, I am considering the matter in consultation with my advisers.
§ Mr. SorensenWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he agrees that it is most undesirable that a practice which has fallen into disuse in this country should still be used in some of our colonial areas?
§ Mr. GriffithsI think I indicated in reply to a previous Question that I am giving attention to the whole problem.