HC Deb 20 April 1989 vol 151 c289W
Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason, and for how long, Mr. Dean Miles, prisoner 2672, has been held in the segregation unit at Her Majesty's prison, Albany; what category prisoner is Mr. Miles; for what category he was recommended; and why he is held in maximum security conditions in a dispersal prison.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Mr. Miles was removed from association with other prisoners at Albany prison on 10 November 1988 under prison rule 48, which allows for the segregation of prisoners pending adjudication. He continued to be segregated under rule 48 until 22 December, when his case was heard by the board of visitors and a disciplinary award of 14 days' exclusion from associated labour was made. This punishment was served in the segregation unit. On completion of the punishment the governor decided that Mr. Miles should be segregated from other prisoners, in the interests of good order and discipline, under prison rule 43. Mr Miles remains segregated under rule 43 at this time.

Mr. Miles is categorised as security category C. It is not unusual for category C prisoners to be held in prisons of a higher security classification, in particular if the governor of a lower security prison has requested their transfer on the grounds that they have proved unsuitable for the regime of a lower security prison. Prisoners' allocation and categorisation are reviewed periodically at a local level. I understand that the question of Mr. Miles' location is to be reviewed shortly.