HC Deb 04 February 1948 vol 446 cc281-2W
75. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what punishments are inflicted on prisoners in Kingston Naval Detention Barracks.

Mr. Dugdale

Punishments in Royal Naval Detention Quarters may only be awarded in accordance with the rules and regulations for Naval Detention Quarters.

The rules and regulations for Naval Detention Quarters provide for a graduated scheme of punishments which may be awarded by the Captain of the Quarters, the Monthly Visitor, the Board of Visitors and the Commanding Officer of the ship on the books of which the offender is borne. Punishments by the Captain of the Quarters and the Monthly Visitor are limited to short period of close confinement, reduction to a lower privilege stage, deprivation of remission marks and the infliction of a severe or of a milder punishment diet. The Board of Visitors is empowered to try offenders alleged to be guilty of interrupting an officer in the execution of his duty or of aiding or inciting any person to assault, resist or interrupt such an officer and may impose a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment plus a period equal to the unexpired portion of the detention sentence which the offender is undergoing. If the offence is one which cannot be properly tried by the Captain of the Quarters, Monthly Visitor or the Board of Visitors, it may be tried summarily by the offender's Commanding Officer, who may award any of the punishments permitted under the summary punishments regulations in King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions. If necessary, an offender could be tried by court-martial, in which case he might incur any of the punishments permitted under the Naval Discipline Act.