§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many attacks have been made upon prison officers in Scotland since April 1980; what was the punishment given to each offender in each case; and what was the compensation paid to the injured officer in each case.
§ Mr. RifkindSince April 1980 there have been 101 assaults by inmates on prison officers in Scotland.
Those guilty of committing the assaults were dealt with either by the courts, which imposed custodial sentences ranging from 12 months to 30 days; by the visiting committees, which awarded a variety of punishments, ranging from loss of 90 days remission to the loss of privileges for varying periods—not exceeding 28 days; or the governors, who awarded a variety of punishments, ranging from loss of 14 days remission to loss of privileges for varying periods—not exceeding 14 days.
It is open to any officer who has been injured in this way to seek compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. The Department does not hold records of any such claims.