§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of sexual abuse have been recorded at young offenders institutions in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe current prison service policy is that details of all assaults are recorded, including sexual assaults. Investigations are made as appropriate, but the system at present does not allow for easy retrieval of information relating specifically to sexual assault.
The reporting of incidents by prison establishments in England and Wales is currently under review, as is the system for the storage and retrieval of information about incidents. An improved system for reporting incidents, and for storing and retrieving information about incidents, is expected to be in place by the middle of 1993.
It is envisaged that, when the new systems are in place, more detailed information will be available about all assaults, including those with a sexual element.