§ 20. Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to protect prison officers and civilians employed in the prison service from the growing practice of being used as hostages by the more violent inmates of prisons.
§ Dr. SummerskillI am not sure what specific measures the hon. Member has in mind beyond the security arrangements applied in all establishments for the protection of staff against possible assault from prisoners. My right hon. Friend believes that existing powers under the prison rules are adequate to deal with such hostage incidents as are not made the subject of criminal proceedings.
§ Mr. RossDoes the hon. Lady accept that this is a matter of considerable concern in my constituency, where there are no fewer than three prisons and increasing incidents of this type and there is urgent need to amend the existing rule book to ensure, among other things, that prisoners taking such action are dealt with by outside courts?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe two main disciplinary offences for which a prisoner who takes a member of staff hostage would be most likely to be charged are committing an assault and offending against good order and discipline.