§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the appearance of a prisoner from Dartmoor in the Shrewsbury County Court to give evidence in bankruptcy proceedings; whether the prisoner referred to protested against the indignity of being handcuffed under such circumstances and while accompanied by two warders, and that the judge expressed his sympathy with the protest; and whether instructions will be given to avoid such handcuffing in future when prisoners appear as witnesses in court?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, Sir; I have made inquiry into this matter. A prisoner produced to give evidence should not be handcuffed, unless there is definite reason to expect that he will be violent in court, and instructions are being given to the Governors of all prisons to prevent a recurrence of what, unfortunately, happened in this case.