HL Deb 08 December 1981 vol 425 c1332WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will instruct prison governors to notify relatives promptly when a prisoner is moved, particularly when a visit is scheduled; and why the prison authorities at Gartree did not tell Mrs. G. Seale of the transfer of her husband to Leicester Prison over the weekend of 21st to 22nd November when she was due to visit him on 24th November.

Lord Belstead

In accordance with Standing Orders prison governors arrange for relatives to be notified of a prisoner's transfer in order to prevent abortive visits. For security reasons no information about the transfer of a Category 'A' prisoner can be given until the move has taken place. If prison staff have reason to suppose a visit is imminent, the visitor will in these cases be advised not to travel; he will subsequently be notified, usually by the receiving prison, of the prisoner's arrival so that further arrangements can be made for the visit. On arrival at a new location, a prisoner is issued with a letter so that he can, if he wishes, notify his relatives of his whereabouts. If for some reason the prisoner wishes the information to be passed to his relatives more quickly than by letter, for example, because a visit is imminent, the prison welfare officer will telephone.

Prison staff at Gartree were unaware when Peter Seale was transferred to Leicester on 20th November that a visit had been planned for 24th November. Mr. Seale is not married. It is understood that his mother telephoned Gartree prison either Monday or Tuesday 23rd/24th November and was told that he had been transferred to Leicester prison. His unmarried sister, who lives with his mother, visited Mr. Seale at Leicester on 24th November.