§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the Winsom Green prison security department on the suitability of Mark Jarvis for home leave.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mr. D. Lewis to Ms Lynne Jones, dated 26 July 1993:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the publication of the report on the suitability of Mr. Mark Jarvis for home leave.In considering applications for home leave, the home leave board will receive reports from a number of sources, including staff responsible for security. In the case of Mr. Jarvis, the home leave board considered these reports which, with the exception of the security report, indicated that his recent behaviour was much improved and that he had shown a marked change since arriving at Birmingham in 1991. In view of his history, the board decided that the decision should be deferred and further reports commissioned about the suitability of the place he intended to stay. His good behaviour continued over the next two months and the board was advised that his home leave address was suitable. The social services were also consulted, and his home leave was approved.The report from the security department at Birmingham had referred to his criminal record, his failure on temporary release the year before and his having been refused four applications for parole. The report was compiled by a prison officer and expressed the view that Mr. Jarvis was not suitable for home leave at the time, but having taken that report into
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Table A Persons found guilty or cautioned under the Licensing Act 1964 by police force area in Wales 1989–91 Police force area Year Found guilty Cautioned Found guilty or cautioned Persons under 18 buying intoxicating liquor1 Dyfed—Powys 1989 — 23 23 1990 3 27 30 1991 — 10 10 Gwent 1989 8 53 61 1990 37 54 91 1991 1 46 47 North Wales 1989 32 60 92 1990 15 78 93 1991 5 31 36 South Wales 1989 8 52 60 1990 6 76 82 1991 — 21 21 Wales 1989 48 188 236 1990 61 235 296 1991 6 108 114 Selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 182 Dyfed—Powys 1989 4 16 20 1990 7 7 14 1991 — 4 4 Gwent 1989 16 41 57 1990 29 22 51 1991 6 12 18 North Wales 1989 12 14 26 1990 11 3 14 1991 1 10 11 consideration, alongside other reports of a more positive nature, the home leave board decided he should be released.
I am very concerned about any temporary release failure. The procedures were changed in October last year to improve the effectiveness of risk assessment. A further review is currently in progress. I have also written recently to all Governors to remind them of the need for great care before releasing a prisoner for home leave and reminding them to exercise caution in favour of public safety. It is right to refuse any application where there is doubt about a prisoner's likely behaviour while at liberty. Good behaviour in prison is a factor to be taken into account when considering a request for home leave, but the protection of the public has to be the overriding factor.