HL Deb 08 May 1990 vol 518 cc1351-7WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will name each of the prison establishments where, since 1st April 1990, disturbances have taken place, and to provide the date and time of each disturbance.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The most serious incidents, involving a substantial number of inmates acting in concert and the use of violence towards staff or property, occurred at the following establishments:

HMP Manchester (commenced at 11.00 on 1st April, ended at 18.20 on 25th April)
HMP Long Lartin (21.00 on 2nd April-11.00 on 3rd April)
HMYOI Glen Parva (19.30 on 6th April-03.04 on 7th April)
HMP Dartmoor (14.45 on 7th April-16.45 on 8th April, although one prisoner remained on the roof until mid-day on 14th April)

HMP Cardiff (08.30–12.10 on 8th April)
HMP Bristol (15.29 on 8th April-14.30 on 9th April)
HMYOI Stoke Heath (20.25 on 8th April-13.15 on 9th April)
HMRC Pucklechurch (18.35 on 22nd April-13.40 on 23rd April)

Other incidents involving groups of inmates acting in concert and using violence towards staff or property occurred at the following establishments:

HMP Kirkham (conmmenced at 20.25 on 1st April finished at 20.45 on 1stt April)
HMP Brixton (11.36–12.20 on 8th April)
HMP Hull (15.05–16.10 on 8th April)
HMP The Verne (23.20 on 8th April-02.07 on 9th April)
HMYOI Everthorpe (19.45–22.45 on 9th April)
HMYOI Portland (19.45–20.40 on 12th April)

In addition, a Fire occurred in the dining hall at HM Prison Lindholme at 19.00 on 2nd April. Prisoners were evacuated from the area, and the incident was over by 19.20. The cause of the fire is currently being investigatged by the police. A fire occurred in a television room at HM Prison, Albany at about 20.30 on 24th April, necessitating the temporary evacuation of a wing. The fire was put out by the fire brigade and prisoners returned to their cells by 23.15. Incendiary devices were also discovered elsewhere in the prison. This incident is also being investigated by the police.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will detail the nature of the structural damage caused at each prison establishment since April 1990, by the disturbances and the estimated cost of the damage for each establishment.

Earl Ferrers

I have arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many extra hours have been worked by uniformed prison officers at each prison establishment affected by or threatened with a disturbance since 1st April 1990: and

What was, for each establishment affected or threatened by a disturbance since 1st April 1990, the number of uniformed prison officers deployed from other prisons, giving the number of staff each prison establishment provided; and

How many hours have been worked by uniformed prison officers detached from outside establishments to attend prisons affected by or threatened with disturbances since 1st April 1990.

Earl Ferrers

The disturbances during the period lst-25th April 1990 had an impact, direct or indirect, on most prison service establishments. The numbers of officers involved and of additional hours they worked, at their own establishments or while detached to others, are currently being collated with a view to the assessment of emergency payments. I shall write to the noble Lord with details when available.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many inmates from each of the prison establishments affected by disturbances have been transferred to other prisons.

Earl Ferrers

The numbers of prisoners transferred immediately following the disturbances were:

Establishments No. of Inmates
HMP Manchester 1,211
HMP Long Lartin 27
HMYOI and RC Glen Parva 4
HMP Dartmoor 147
HMP Cardiff 82
HMP Bristol 381
HMYOI Stoke Heath 18
HMRC Pucklechurch 113
HMP Kirkham 5
HMP Brixton 10
HMP Hull 7
HMP The Verne 15
HMYOI Everthorpe 0
HMYOI Portland 0

Further surrender of inmates resulted in more prisoners being transferred from HMP Manchester to other prison establishments and more being transferred from HMRC Pucklechurch. Additionally, some prisoners were removed into police custody and others were discharged at the end of their sentence.

Subsequently, transfers between various establishments have been made in order to bring prisoners nearer to their homes and courts of remand or trial, where applicable.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which prison establishments have received inmates transferred from prisons affected by disturbances, and how many transferred inmates each establishment has received.

Earl Ferrers

Details of the numbers of inmates transferred to other establishments immediately after disturbances are as set out below. The figures given below, provided from regional office records, exclude prisoners transferred to police cells and take no account of further transfers after the initial dispersal of inmates.

HMP MANCHESTER (Disturbance commenced 1st April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Birmingham 136
Brixton 34
Cardiff 50
Dorchester 20
Durham 101
Everthorpe 24
Full Sutton 4
Glen Parva 16
Hindley 39
Leeds 71
Leicester 46
Lincoln 96
Liverpool 116
Norwich 24
Oxford 20

No. of Inmates
Pentonville 20
Preston 72
Reading 19
Risley 114
Shrewsbury 19
Swansea 20
Wakefield 22
Wandsworth 30
Winchester 50
Wormwood Scrubs 48

HMP LONG LARTIN (Disturbance on 2nd April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of inmates
Bristol 4
Brixton 3
Chelmsford 2
Frankland 1
Gartree 1
Leicester 1
Pentonville 3
Wakefield 2
Wandsworth 4
Winchester 3
Wormwood Scrubs 3

HMYOI AND RC GLEN PARVA (Disturbance on 6th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Lincoln 4

HMP DARTMOOR (Disturbance on 7th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Bristol 32
Dorchester 36
Gloucester 34
Oxford 20
Reading 15
Winchester 10

HMP CARDIFF (Disturbance on 8th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Portland 29
Pucklechurch 15
Swansea 30
Usk 8

HMP BRISTOL (Disturbance on 8th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Aylesbury 1
Bedford 9
Birmingham 52
Full Sutton 1
Glen Parva 75
Gloucester 40
Latchmere House 68
Leicester 28
Leyhill 1
Lincoln 28
Long Lartin 1
The Mount 56
Swansea 20
Winchester 1

HMYOI STOKE HEATH (Disturbance on 8th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Birmingham 5
Castington 3
Deerbolt 5
Northallerton 5

HMRC PUCKLECHURCH (Disturbance on 22nd April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No of Inmates
Dorchester 10
Exeter 12
Gloucester 12
Oxford 5
Reading 10
Swansea 10
Winchester 10
Holloway (temporary move) 44

HMP KIRKHAM (Disturbance on 1st April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No of Inmates
Shrewsbury 5

HMP BRIXTON (Disturbance on 8th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Pentonville 3
Wandsworth 4
Wormwood Scrubs 3

HMP HULL (Disturbance on 8th April 1990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Frankland 2
Full Sutton 2
Risley 1
Wakefield 2

HMP THE VERNE (Disturbance on 8th April 19990)

Receiving Establishment No. of Inmates
Winchester 7
Exeter 3
Reading 3
Dorchester 2

HMYOI EVERTHORPE (Disturbance on 9th April 1990)

No transfers

HMYOI PORTLAND (Disturbance on 12th April 1990)

No transfers

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prison officers have been injured at each prison establishment affected by the recent disturbances, when the injuries were sustained, what was the nature of the injuries, and how many prison officers remain in hospital.

Earl Ferrers

Details of physical injuries reported as having been sustained by prison officers, establishments where incidents took place involving groups of inmates acting in concert and using violence towards staff or property are as follows:

NATURE OF INJURIES SUSTAINED No Prison Officers Cuts Abrasions Bruises Swelling Breaks! Fractures Dislocations Sprains/Strains and Other Muscular Injuries Injuries to Teeth Other Head/Eye Injuries Concussion Smoke Inhalation Whip-Lash: Other Neck! Shoulder Injuries Other Not Specified
HMP Long Lartin 2–3 April 6 7 1 1
HMYOI Glen Parva 6–7 April 5 2 1 2
HMP Dartmoor 7–8 April Nil
HMP Cardiff 8 April 5 8
HMP Bristol 8–9 April 25 25 2 8 1
HMYOI Stoke Heath 8–9 April 3 3 1
HMRC Pucklechurch 22–23 April 41 32 11 5 6 3
HMP Kirkham 1 April Nil
HMP Brixton 8 April 4 2 2
HMP Hull 8 April 1 1
HMP The Verne 8–9 April Nil
HMYOI Everthorpe 9 April 5 5 1
HMYOI Portland Nil

Detailed information about the injuries to officers at Manchester is being collated, and my honourable and learned friend will write to the noble Lord when it is available.

I understand that no officers remain in hospital.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much cellular accommodation has become inoperative in each prison affected by the recent disturbances and the estimated period for which cellular accommodation will remain inoperative.

Earl Ferrers

The table below sets out the loss of cellular accommodation as a result of the recent disturbances.

Prison Number of Cells Lost
Bristol 460
Cardiff 95
Dartmoor 153
Glen Parva 70
Long Lartin 28
Manchester 939
Pucklechurch 103
Stoke Heath 60
1,908

Four hundred and five cells are now back in use and a further 157 will become operational during May. Work on another 407 cells at Bristol, Dartmoor and Pucklechurch will be completed within 18 months. It is not at present possible to say when the 939 places at Manchester will be brought back into use.

CELLS—Summary

Back in use In use in 4–6 weeks In use in 18 months No firm date yet Total
BRISTOL 194 101 165 460
DARTMOOR 14 135 153
PUCKLECHURCH 103 103
MANCHESTER 939 939
CARDIFF 89 6 95
STOKE HEATH 60 60
GLEN PARVA 62 8 70
LONG LARTIN 28 28
405 157 407 939 1,908