PRISON DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM (Hansard, 15 March 1989)

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has laid before the House revised Prison Rules and revised Young Offender Institution Rules which will implement, from 1st April, important reforms in the disciplinary systems governing the conduct of prisoners.

The rules introduce a new code of offences which will be simpler and clearer than the present code. New offences have been created to deal specifically with serious offences such as hostage-taking, barricading and arson. At the same time, the offences of making a false and malicious allegation against an officer and repeatedly making groundless complaints have been abolished.

The maximum punishment on a single charge which is available to boards of visitors has been reduced from 180 days' loss of remission to 120 days in adult establishments. It will be 90 days for young 327WA offenders. The maximum loss of remission on consecutive punishments arising from a single incident will be 180 days and 135 days respectively.

The procedures for referring more serious charges to the board of visitors have been simplified. An extensive programme of training in the new rules is being carried through, and the recent issue of a completely revised guidance manual on the conduct of adjudications will also assist boards of visitors and governors in carrying out this vital function. The manual will be available in a published edition shortly, and is in any event made accessible to all prisoners. In addition, the Prison Standing Order governing adjudications is being revised and will also be published.

I believe that these changes represent a substantial improvement to the prison disciplinary system.