Blakenhurst Prison (Hansard, 6 February 1995)

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 6 February 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the latest available figures for the number of disturbances at Blakenhurst prison. There has only been one significant disturbance at Blakenhurst, which took place in February 1994, involving 150 prisoners and resulting in property damage of about £30,000, which was paid for by the contractors. There were no injuries to staff or prisoners and the security of the prison was not threatened. On 5 September 1994 there was an incident involving a small cell fire, and during which a Prison Custody Officer was assaulted. There have been nine other incidents of passive or minor concerted indiscipline in the twenty months since the prison opened.