§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Over what periods and in what prisons Mr. R. J. Mawdsley, a prisoner in Wakefield Prison, has been segregated under Rule 43 since the beginning of 1978; for how long he has occupied his present cell, with its steel mesh barrier, and on whose authority and for what purpose this contrivance was originally installed.
§ Lord Belstead:Mr. Mawsdley was initially held on Rule 43 in the interests of good order and discipline at Bristol from his conviction in October 1977 until his transfer to Wakefield on 9th March 1978. After a period on normal location he has been held on Rule 43 at Wakefield since 29th July 1978 following the murder of two prisoners.
A cell with an inner cell door made of steel mesh was originally installed on the authority of the regional director to protect staff from a surprise attack by a particularly violent prisoner during the unlocking process. The secondary cell door also provided a means whereby a prisoner could maintain contact with staff without jeopardising security and control. When, after the killing of two prisoners at Wakefield, Mr. Mawdsley was segregated under Rule 43 on 29th July 1978, the governor considered it appropriate to locate him in this particular cell so as to minimisa the degree of isolation he would experience as a consequence of his segregation. The solid outer door of the cell is closed whenever Mr. Mawdsley so requests.