§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he is taking following the criticism of the prison authorities made by Mr. Justice Potts in connection with the murder in Durham prison of 19-year-old Darren Brook; and whether such action will seek to establish responsibility for what happened and seek to prevent its recurrence;
(2) if he will call for a report on the circumstances in which Darren Brook was confined in a cell at Durham prison with a long-term prisoner, having been sentenced to a period of custody in a young offenders' institution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldA full investigation was carried out into the circumstances of Mr. Brook's tragic death as a matter of urgency by the governor at Durham prison in January of this year. This led to the implementation of revised and improved procedures on the young offender wing. The trial judge, Mr. Justice Potts, has expressed satisfaction at the steps taken at the prison to avoid a similar occurrence and I am similarly satisfied. A fellow young offender has recently been convicted of Mr. Brook's murder.