HL Deb 02 December 1981 vol 425 cc1113-4WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what occasions the Home Office Prison Department records show that watches have been used to assault prison staff; what criteria are applied in deciding whether a person who is segregated for reasons of good order and discipline may keep his watch; and how many of the prisoners so segregated in 1980 were not allowed to keep their watches.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)

Prison governors have discretion to refuse permission for an inmate to have in his possession a watch which is considered unsuitable for wear in prison, but otherwise a person who is segregated would not normally be deprived of his watch. The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.