§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the policy implications of the report by Mr. Nigel Baker QC, on the incident at Fulbourn hospital, Cambridgeshire, involving Claude Dixon, a former patient at Broadmoor; if, in light of the report's findings, he is satisfied that it was in the public interest to discharge this person from Broadmoor; what arrangements he has made for the future safe custody of this person; and if he will review the criteria applied when considering the recommendations for release of psychotic killers from prison hospitals.
§ Mr. MellorWe have received a copy of Mr. Baker's report and are studying it, as I understand is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
The committee of inquiry found no reason to criticise the decision to transfer Mr. Dixon to Fulbourn hospital, and we consider that it was reasonable in the light of the information which was available at the time. We already take full account of considerations of public safety when considering proposals for the transfer of mentally disordered offenders from special hospitals such as Broadmoor. Mr. Dixon is now being detained in Broadmoor hospital under a restriction order made for an indefinite period.