Gartree Prison

HC Deb 21 December 1972 vol 848 cc425-7W

Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the regional director's report on the recent incidents at Gartree prison; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. R. Carr

The regional director's report contains a full account of the attempted escapes and of the subsequent riot at Gartree prison on 26th-27th November.

Fourteen prisoners were involved in the escape attempt. Of these, nine failed to get beyond the inner security fence of the prison; one was recaptured between the two fences; and four succeeded in breaking through both fences but were recaptured before they had gone more than a few yards from the perimeter fence by staff deployed to meet the emergency.

The escaping group of prisoners had equipped themselves with certain equipment including two false keys and two pairs of heavy bolt cutters. The police are inquiring into the source of these articles and other things in their possession.

There is no evidence to support the suggestion that there was any outside planning or help for the escapers. The various electronic and other security devices operated satisfactorily during the period of the attempted escape; as a result, the alarm was given before the escapers reached the perimeter.

The riot at the prison which followed was not planned as a diversion for the escapers; it was evidently provoked by the sight of the recapture of the escapers in full view of a large number of prisoners. Neither the regime nor the conditions at this modern prison offer any justification for the violent and destructive demonstration which took place.

A substantial amount of damage was done and the cost of repairing and replacing buildings, furniture and equipment is estimated at about £14,000. One closed circuit television camera was damaged, and the internal alarm system was partially disrupted after the escape had been dealt with.

Eighteen prison officers sustained injuries while recapturing the escapers and during the subsequent disturbances. Five prisoners were injured in the scuffle by the perimeter.

The regional director has made a number of recommendations designed to make escape even more difficult and certain of these recommendations are already being put into effect at the prison. He has made other recommendations which have wider implications for the regimes at prisons holding high security risk prisoners and I shall be considering these in relation to the review which I have already set in train of the operation of the dispersal policy. Since the regional director's report contains such detailed information about the security arrangements and procedures at Gartree prison, it would not be in the public interest to publish it.

The regional director's report reinforces the view I have already expressed that the governor and his staff showed fortitude and resource in dealing with a grave challenge to the security of the prison and with the disturbances which followed. The report also confirms the value of the prompt and effective support provided by the police and the fire service.