§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What instructions to prison governors are in force as to notifying the police when a prisoner who has been designated as "Special Watch A" or "B" is transferred to their custody.
The Earl of CaithnessUnder Circular Instruction 32/1985 prison establishments are required to inform the police when any prisoner who presents exceptional risk is transferred to police custody. The Circular Instruction makes clear that prisoners may be considered to present exceptional risk if, among other criteria, they are known or believed to have suicidal tendencies or to suffer from physical illness or mental disturbance. Special watch procedures are used mainly to protect prisoners in these categories, and the procedure set out in the Circular Instruction is therefore applicable when they are considered to present exceptional risk. The procedure requires a special form setting out the nature of the risk and any other relevant information to be handed to the police officer into whose custody the prisoner is to be transferred.