§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for the last 12 months the dates on which each of Her Majesty's closed prison establishments were put on maximum security alert; for what reasons; and what were the results obtained;
(2) if he will list for the last 12 months the dates on which each of Her Majesty's open prison establishments were put on maximum security alert; for what reasons; and what were the results obtained.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe term "maximum security alert" is not one used in prisons. Incidents recorded centrally between 9 May 1990 and 8 May 1991 which (1) involved a full search of the prison, or (2) presented a significant threat to control, were as follows:
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Establishment Date Incident Outcome Channings Wood 31 October 1990 Missing inmate Inmate found after 2½ hours Chelmsford 24 July 1990 Bomb threat Nothing found Chelmsford 6 November 1990 Loss of security key Key not found—locks changed Chelmsford 18 February 1991 Bomb threat Nothing found Deerbolt 16 August 1990 Two missing prisoners Prisoners found in roof space Eastwood Park 11 January 1991 Bomb threat Nothing found Erlestoke 13 March 1991 Loss of security key Key found Full Sutton 6 December 1990 Loss of officer's radio Radio not found Gartree 31 December 1990 Firearm alert and concerted indiscipline No firearm found; illicit alcohol discovered. Hindley 31 May 1990 Bomb threat Nothing found Leicester 9 October 1990 Bomb threat Nothing found Leicester 6 November 1990 Photographic film of a security area found Full search conducted for camera—nothing found Lewes 22 November 1990 Firearm alert Canister of an incapacitating agent found. Lewes 2 December 1990 Replica firearm found Blank ammunition found Lewes 25 March 1991 Two live rounds of ammunition found Blank ammunition found Lindholme 13 September 1990 Loss of 3 garden knives All knives found Liverpool 11 September 1990 Security key missing Key not found Long Lartin 24 May 1990 Firearm alert Nothing found Low Newton 5 December 1990 Bomb threat Nothing found Pentonville 2 October 1990 Bomb threat Nothing found Preston 14 November 1990 Loss of kitchen knife Knife eventually found in drain on 28 November 1990 Ranby 21 June 1990 Two prisoners missing Recaptured in prison kitchen Shepton Mallet 31 July 1990 Loss of security key Key found Wormwood Scrubs 3 May 1991 Firearm alert Nothing found (b) Open Prisons Finnamore Wood 11 July 1990 Security key missing Prisoner who stole key discovered Hewell Grange 3 April 1991 Loss of officer's radio Radio found on 9 April 1991 New Hall 14 January 1991 Bomb threat Nothing found New Hall 4 February 1991 Bomb threat Nothing found 2. Significant threats to control (All closed prisons) Acklington 12 February 1991 Refusal to return to cells Damage to prison property—resolved after one hour without use of force Cardiff 1 November 1990 Rooftop demonstration by 2 inmates Damage to roof. Inmates surrendered after 5 hours Cookham Wood 6 December 1990 Refusal to return to cells Resolved by negotiation Full Sutton 3 June 1990 36 prisoners barricaded in dining hall Damage to prison property. Surrendered after 7½hours Full Sutton 5 January 1991 85 prisoners refused to return to cells Resolved after 3 hours. No force used Full Sutton 6 January 1991 75 prisoners refused to return to cells Resolved after 2½ hours. No force used Hull 30 September 1990 Rooftop demonstration by 2 inmates Surrendered after 1¼ hours and 5 hours respectively Kirklevington 12 November 1990 Barricade and attempted escape Damage to prison property. Resolved by control and restraint teams. Leeds 26 July 1990 92 prisoners refused to leave exercise yard. Ended peacefully after one hour. Norwich 2 December 1990 Barricade and escape attempt by 9 prisoners. Control and restraint team intervened after 6½ hours of negotiation. Attempt thwarted.
Establishment Date Incident Outcome Parkhurst 28 July 1990 Rooftop demonstration by 2 inmates Control and restraint team intervened after 11½ hours of negotiation. Pentonville 24 March 1991 12 prisoners refused to leave exercise yard. Ended after 1½ hours. Preston 15 July 1990 Rooftop demonstration by 51 inmates. Surrendered after 4 hours. Rochester 31 December 1990 20 prisoners refused to leave TV room. Resolved by negotiation after 1½ hours. Rochester 17 February 1991 30 prisoners damaged dormitories. Resolved by negotiation after 1½ hours. Shepton Mallet 15 November 1990 Suspected concerted indiscipline. No incident occurred; suspected ringleaders transferred. Stoke Heath 7 April 1991 Prisoners refused to leave dining hall. Resolved by negotiation after half an hour. Winchester 13 May 1990 Rooftop demonstration by 7 inmates. Considerable damage to roof; resolved by negotiation after 10 hours. Winchester 17 February 1991 34 prisoners refused to leave exercise yard. Resolved by negotiation after one hour.