§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were put into canvas restraint jackets in each of the years from 1986 to 1990.
§ Mrs. RumboldInformation on the number of applications of loose canvas jackets to male prisoners in
Persons in prison service establishments in England and Wales on prison rule 43 and young offender institution rule 46 on 30 June 1990: by type of prisoner, period of segregation, age group and sex Males Females Type of prisoner All persons Aged under 21 Adults Aged under 21 Adults All held on prison rule 43 or young offender institution rule 46 2,282 220 2,036 3 23 Own interest (own protection) 1,980 152 1,805 2 21 Current period of segregation Up to 1 month 408 57 347 1 3 Over 1 month up to 3 months 451 43 403 — 5 Over 3 months up to 12 months 885 48 831 1 5 Over 12 months 236 4 224 — 8 Good order or discipline 302 68 231 1 2 Current period of segregation Up to 1 month 222 59 160 1 2 Over 1 month up to 3 months 59 3 56 — — Over 3 months 21 6 15 — —
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners experienced more than one 10/74 transfer in each year for 1986 to 1990;
(2) how many prisoners experienced in each year from 1986 to 1990, (i) more than three 10/74 transfers (ii) more than three transfers under good order and discipline procedures and (iii) more than three transfers for other reasons, including Home Office directives;
(3) how many 10/74 transfers were authorised by governors in each year from 1986 to 1990.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were kept in a body belt for over 24 hours in each of the years from 1986 to 1990, and in which prisons.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe readily available information is given in the table.
272Wthe years 1986 to 1989 was published in table 10.3 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (Cm. 1221), a copy of which is in the Library.
According to the records held centrally, the number of different inmates who were so restrained was four in 1987, two in 1988 and one in 1989.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners in each of the years 1986–1990 were held in segregation units for (i) over six months, (ii) over a year and (iii) over two years;
(2) how many prisoners were kept in segregation units for a continuous period of over 13 weeks in each of the years 1986–1990.
§ Mrs. RumboldInformation is not available in the form requested. The available data relate to the population of inmates removed from association with other inmates under prison rule 43 and young offender institution rule 46. Figures for 30 June 1989 were published in table 10.1 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1989" (Cm. 1221), a copy of which is in the Library. Provisional figures for 30 June 1990 are given in the table.
Prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales restrained by means of a body belt for periods over 24 hours: by establishment, 1988 and 1989 Establishment 1988 1989 Local prisons Birmingham 2 — Durham 1 — Hull — 2 Leicester 1 — Wandsworth 1 — Training prisons Cookham Wood — 1 Frankland 1 — Full Sutton 1 — Young offender institution Dover — 1
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were put into segregation in each year between 1986 and 1990 (i) under good order and discipline, (ii) pending adjudication, (iii) on punishment, (iv) for any other reason and (v) on rule 43(a).
273W
§ Mrs. RumboldAn inmate may be removed from association with other inmates where this appears desirable for the maintenance of good order or discipline or in his own interests, under prison rule 43 or young offender institution rule 46. The readily available information is that the following numbers of prisoners were removed from association under these rules on 30 June:
1989 1990 Good order and discipline 238 302 Own interests 2,213 1,980 Information is not recorded centrally on the number of inmates who, under prison rule 48(2) or young offender institution rule 51(2), are kept apart from other inmates pending adjudication.
Inmates were awarded cellular or room confinement following adjudication or disciplinary offences on the following number of occasions:
274W
Body bells applied to violent or refractory prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales: by establishment, 1987 to 1989 1987 1988 1989 Establishment Applications Prisoners Applications Prisoners Applications Prisoners Local prisons and remand centres Ashford — — — — 1 1 Bedford 1 1 1 1 1 1 Birmingham — — 8 5 2 2 Brixton — — — — 2 2 Camp Hill — — — — 5 5 Canterbury 2 2 — — — — Cardiff — — 1 1 2 2 Chelmsford 1 1 1 1 1 1 Durham — — 1 1 — — Hull 7 7 4 4 9 9 Leeds 1 1 1 1 — — Leicester 6 6 14 11 2 1 Lewes — — 1 1 3 2 Lincoln — — 4 4 3 3 Oxford 1 1 1 1 — — Pentonville 2 2 1 1 — — Reading 1 1 1 1 2 2 Rochester — — — — 1 1 Wandsworth 6 5 10 8 6 6 Wormwood Scrubs 3 3 1 1 2 2 Training prisons Acklington — — — — 2 2 Albany 1 1 — — 1 1 Blundeston 1 1 — — — — Camp Hill — — 4 3 — — Chelmsford 1 1 — — — — Cookham Wood — — — — 1 1 Frankland 6 5 6 5 3 2 Full Sutton — — 7 6 9 8 Garth — — 1 1 — — Haverigg — — — — 1 1 Lindholme 1 1 3 3 2 2 Long Lartin 4 3 2 1 — — Parkhurst 5 5 — — 8 8 Preston — — — — 1 1 Shepton Mallet — — 2 2 — — Stafford 3 3 — — 1 1
Year Number 1986 7,342 1987 6,904 1988 6,317 1989 6,269
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used for deciding which cases involving allegations of assault by prison officers should be settled by ex-gratia payments and which should be contested.
§ Mrs. RumboldThere are no standard criteria and the decision about whether to contest a civil claim must reflect all the circumstances of the case. A decision to make an ex-gratia payment will not necessarily reflect doubts about the conduct of the member of staff concerned or a belief that the allegation is true.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions and in which prisons, a body belt was used in Her Majesty's prisons in each year from 1986 to 1990; and on how many prisoners was the body belt used in each year from 1986 to 1990.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe readily available information is given in the table.
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1987 1988 1989 Establishment Applications Prisoners Applications Prisoners Applications Prisoners Wakefield 2 2 — — — — Young offender institutions Aylesbury — — 1 1 3 3 Dover 7 7 — — 5 5 Glen Parva 1 1 1 1 — — Guys Marsh 1 1 — — — — Hollesley Bay 1 1 — — — — Northallerton 1 1 — — — — Onley 1 1 — — — — Rochester 7 7 — — — —
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many doubled door cells there are in Her Majesty's prisons; and how many times double door cells were used in each of the years from 1986 to 1990.
§ Mrs. RumboldIn England and Wales the current prison design standards provide that a special cell for the temporary confinement of a refractory or violent inmate, or a protective room in a prison hospital for the temporary confinement of an inmate who is disturbed or is otherwise a danger to himself or herself or to others, should have inner and outer doors. Not all special cells and protective rooms at present designated as such are so equipped. Reliable information about the total number of special cells and protective rooms is not available centrally. The readily available information about the total number of occasions on which special cells and protective rooms designated as such have been used is as follows:
Year Special cells Protective rooms 1986 1,662 n.a. 1987 1,491 507 1988 1,453 623 1989 1,739 593 n.a.—not available. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-gratia payments were made to prisoners who claimed to have been attacked in jail by prison officers in each year for 1986 to 1990; in which prison the incidents occurred; how many prison officers were disciplined; and on what grounds it was decided not to discipline prison officers in these cases.
§ Mrs. RumboldCentral records are kept only of allegations made by prisoners of assault by staff when these result in civil litigation. Of the 20 such claims received during this period, six have been concluded, and in one case compensation has been paid. This was for a negotiated settlement relating to an alleged assault which was fully investigated and on which it was decided that no disciplinary action would be taken. The settlement was accepted by the plaintiff without any admission of liability on the part of the Department or individual members of staff.