HC Deb 19 July 1990 vol 176 cc670-1W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each of the reported serious incidents that have taken place in prisons in England and Wales between 1 January and 9 July.

Mr. Mellor

The following numbers of incidents between 1 January and 9 July 1990 are recorded as having been reported by prison service establishments under the broad headings shown, excluding incidents under headings categorised as minor.

Number
Escapes 53
Attempted escapes 7
Escapes from escort 46
Attempted escapes from escort 3
Recapture/surrender of escaped inmates 50
Assaults—on staff 48
—on inmates 77
—on other 8
Deaths of inmates, believed to be suicide 21
Other deaths of inmates 20
Deaths of staff 3
Fires causing personal injury, or serious and/or extensive damage to property 11
Acts of concerted indiscipline 60
Barricade incidents 7
Rooftop demonstrations 26
Food refusals 39
Key/lock compromises 7
Hostage incidents 11
Bomb threats/explosions 24
Dirty protest 1
Other miscellaneous incidents 38

To be meaningful, a list would need to include some description of incidents. In view of the number of incidents, such information could be given only at disproportionate cost.

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