HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 cc580-1W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners and others taken into custody have been subjected to body belts in 1988; to what extent a rota system of consultant psychiatrists is available to(a) prisons and (b) the police; on how many such cases their services were used; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

A governor may order an inmate in a prison service establishement to be put under restraint in a body belt where this is necessary to prevent the inmate from injuring himself or others, damaging property or creating a disturbance. During 1987 (the last year for which figures are currently available), body belts were used on 74 occasions in establishments in England and Wales. The prison medical office must be informed whenever a governor orders an inmate to be put under restraint.

Consultants employed in the NHS are frequently called upon by prison medical officers for specialist advice in the context of inmates' treatment generally and in emergencies. In the year ended 31 March 1988 (the last year for which information is available), the cases of 2,815 inmates were referred to NHS consultant psychiatrists, and of a further 9,410 to other NHS psychiatrists. Such services are available round the clock by arrangement with regional health authorities. Information about the incidence of referrals or consultants for specific purposes is not available.

The treatment of people held in police custody is governed by code C (code of practice for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers) of the codes of practice made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The code states that reasonable force may be used to prevent escape, injury, damage to property or the destruction of evidence and requires medical attention for the suspect to be sought whenever necessary, normally from the police surgeon.

Custody records in respect of every person detained by the police are held locally and the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.