§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what additional steps have been taken to ensure the personal safety and security of members of the public, the judiciary, the legal profession and court staff at Liverpool combined court centre; what additional powers of search and arrest have been given to court staff and private security contractual workers; on what legal authority those powers are to be exercised; and what steps are being taken to ensure that private security contractual workers are properly vetted, trained and equipped and that they comply fully with their contractual obligations. [35738]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.
Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paul Boateng, dated 19 July 1995:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about steps taken to ensure personal safety and security at the Liverpool Combined Court Centre.The Department sets minimum security standards, which apply to all courts, including Liverpool Combined Court. Neither court staff nor private security contractors have additional powers of search or arrest.1307WThe Department's standard security contract requires contractors to demonstrate that they have effective systems in place for vetting and training their staff and that they will be properly equipped. Performance against the terms of each contract is closely monitored by local managers and is reviewed at regular meetings between the contractors and staff from the appropriate Circuit Office.