Gartree Prison (Hansard, 22 February 1979)

§ Mr. Merlyn Rees

I have now completed my examination of reports from the regional director and the governor on the riot that took place at Gartree prison on the night of 5 to 6 October 1978 and the report of an investigation carried out by the deputy director of Prison Medical Services into complaints made after the riot by a life sentence prisoner, Michael Carl Blake, in a petition. I have also taken into account a report produced by the Gartree branch of the Prison Officers' Association. In the light of these reports, I have considered whether any further inquiry is needed and have concluded that it is not.

The immediate cause of the riot was a rumour which circulated in the prison that Mr. Blake had been assaulted and drugged. When evening association and classes began at 6 p.m. on 5 October, a group of prisoners on A wing began to make allegations about Mr. Blake's treatment. They rejected an offer to send two of their number to see Mr. Blake in the hospital and began smashing fittings in the wing and throwing missiles. A senior officer on A wing was injured; the alarm was given to call in off-duty staff; the governor arrived to assume control; and the police, fire and ambulance services were alerted. Evening class teachers were safely evacuated from the classrooms. Eight prison officers who had been trapped in A wing were helped to safety by a few other prisoners who were opposed to violence to the staff. The riot spread to D and B wings, but not to C wing, which remained in the control of staff. In A, B and D wings, the rioters erected barricades and repulsed staff with boiling water and missiles when they tried to regain control in the course of 243W the night. Attempts by the rioters 10 break through the fabric of the building into the prison grounds or on to the roof were unsuccessful.

During the riot three prisoners from D wing were allowed to see Mr. Blake in the hospital and were satisfied both from their observations and from what he said that he had not been assaulted. It was decided, with the medical officer's agreement, to allow Mr. Blake to go back to the main prison to show the rioters that he was unharmed. Neither his return nor the evidence of the prisoners who had seen him in the hospital calmed the rioters.

The riot ended and prisoners surrendered on the morning of 6 October after considerable damage had been caused within the prison. Because of the damage, 150 of the 298 prisoners had to be transferred to other prisons.

The position with respect to Mr. Blake's complaints is that he was transferred to Leicester prison on 7 October. On 10 October he submitted a petition complaining that the medical officer at Gartree prison had wrongfully prescribed drugs for him, that hospital officers had forcibly administered the drugs and placed him in a padded cell and that prison staff had untruthfully stated that he had been found in his cell with a towel tied tightly round his neck. Mr. Blake's allegations were carefully investigated by the assistant director of Prison Medical Services. He concluded that Mr. Blake had told the night orderly officer that he had tried to tighten a towel around his neck and that his admission to the prison hospital on 5 October, his location in the protected room for observation of his mental state and the prescription of a mild tranquillising drug were clinical decisions which it was proper for the medical officer to take. Mr. Blake himself admitted that his allegation that he was forcibly held down to be given drugs was untrue and the deputy director found that his complaint that he was drugged against his will was unsupported by medical or other evidence. In the light of all the available evidence he was satisfied that there was no substance in Mr. Blake's complaints about the medical officer and the hospital staff. I accept these conclusions. The official statement given at the time of the riot that Mr. Blake had been found with a towel tied round his neck was, how-ever, inaccurate; this was due to a mis-244W interpretation of a report of what Mr. Blake himself had said to the night orderly officer.

The riot was dealt with with great efficiency by the governor and staff; there was no loss of life or serious injury. The police and fire services gave valuable support and assistance to the prison authorities. I also express my thanks to members of the Gartree board of visitors, who maintained a presence in the establishment both during the riot and during its immediate aftermath and who were on hand to observe the prisoners' surrender and the collection of their property. Disciplinary proceedings are being taken against a number of prisoners involved in the riot.

I am satisfied that the riot was not a planned and concerted action by prisoners with genuine grievances and that no further inquiry is needed.