HC Deb 10 March 1981 vol 1000 cc280-1W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a full list of all those occasions in the last 12 months in which the minimum use of force tactical intervention squad has been employed; where and when it has been employed; for what reasons and in what numbers; and if he will indicate if any prisoners were injured.

Mr. Mayhew

MUFTI teams of prison officers have been deployed twice in the past 12 months. At Hull prison on 12 March 1980 a MUFTI team of six officers was made ready when a prisoner who had barricaded himself in his cell two days earlier began to destroy furniture and fittings. One hour later the prisoner voluntarily removed the barricade and emerged without contact with the officers. The prisoner was not injured. At Albany prison on 13 May 1980, a MUFTI team of 20 officers was placed on standby out of sight of 40 prisoners who staged a sit-down demonstration in the sports field for four and a quarter hours before returning voluntarily to their wings. None of the prisoners was injured.

At Nottingham prison on 6 November 1980 protective equipment was issued to 10 to 16 officers who brought under control a violent demonstration by 11 prisoners who had armed themselves with bricks and pieces of wood and had barricaded themselves in a television room, but the officers did not form up or act as a MUFTI team. All of the prisoners were medically examined and four were found to have slight scratches or bruises. Two officers incurred minor cuts.