§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the incident at Frankland prison involving a sexual assault by an inmate on a women prison officer while carrying out her official duties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSerious assaults in prisons are usually investigated by the police. The incident at Frankland, involving a sexual assault on a woman prison officer by an inmate, was immediately referred to Durham constabulary, which is conducting an inquiry. Its findings are not yet known.
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§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the national safety standards for prison officer staff; and what procedures are being followed by his Department to ensure that these were complied with at Frankland prison.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe safety of all prison staff is always a prime concern in designing procedures within establishments. Arrangements reflect local conditions and I am satisfied that all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of staff are taken at Frankland. The nature of the work and the inmate population inevitably involves some element of risk.
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officer staff have been employed at Frankland prison for each year of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Peter LloydStaffing figures for Frankland prison are available for the last seven years as shown in the table. Before 1986, staffing records were not centrally kept. Further information is not therefore readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Date Staff 1 April 1986 354 1 April 1987 376 1 April 1988 378 1 April 1989 388 1 April 1990 399 1 April 1991 404 1 April 1992 401