§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, within the practice of the prison service, is the maximum period of solitary confinement which a prisoner may normally be called upon to endure.
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§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe Prison Rules 1964 authorise the temporary segregation of prisoners—
- (1) as a punishment for an offence against prison discipline, when the maximum period is 56 days;
- (2) pending adjudication for an offence against prison discipline;
- (3) where segregation is desirable for the maintenance of good order or discipline, or in the prisoner's own interests.
A prisoner must not be segregated under the third heading for a period of more than 24 hours without the authority of a member of the Visiting Committee or Board of Visitors, or of the Secretary of State. This authority must be renewed monthly. Association must be resumed if a medical officer so advises on medical grounds. The case of every segregated prisoner is considered in the Department at regular intervals, and no prisoner is kept in these conditions longer than is necessary in the interests either of his own safety or of good order or discipline.