§ Mr. McTaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why nine prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Glenochil, were placed in handcuffs at 6 am on Friday 11 December 1987 from which they were not released until their arrival in cells at Her Majesty's prison Peterhead; and why this was done without any information on where they were being taken.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe inmates were transferred to Peterhead in the interests of discipline and good order. They were given minimal advance notice of their transfer to reduce the possibility of disruption. The degree of security required by an inmate being transferred is a matter for the governor, who decided in this case that mechanical restraints were required. The inmates were informed at the time of transfer of their destination.