Prison Service (Disciplinary Arrangements) (Hansard, 1 July 1993)

§ Mr. Howard

Following a review of disciplinary procedures in the prison service, I have now approved revised arrangements, which include a new code of discipline for the service. Under the revised arrangements, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, all prison service staff are now brought together under a single code of discipline, which replaces the different procedures which previously applied to various grades of staff. The primary aim of the revised arrangements, which are consistent with employment law and with guidance from the advisory, conciliation and568W arbitration service, and which will be implemented with effect from 1 July 1993, is to ensure that standards of conduct are maintained and to encourage improvement in individual conduct. The new code details the procedures for taking disciplinary action when conduct falls below those standards.

In keeping with moves across the prison service to ensure that decisions are taken at the appropriate level, responsibility for taking disciplinary action up to and including dismissal is being devolved to prison governors and to heads of division at prison service headquarters.

The new code lays down timescales for completing each stage of the disciplinary process, and introduces a new system of progressive disciplinary warnings and penalties. Governors and heads of division will award penalties and will undertake all the administrative work connected with each case. There are rights of appeal built in to various stages of the disciplinary process.

Any disciplinary offences which are alleged to have been committed before 1 July 1993 will be dealt with under the disciplinary arrangements which were then in force.

I believe that the revised arrangements are a considerable improvement on the disparate arrangements previously in force, and that they represent a significant step forward for all concerned.