§ Mrs RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where and when riots have occurred in524W prisons, over the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what has been the cost of repairing damage caused and of relocating prisoners in each case.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 18 January 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the occurrence of riots in prisons over the last ten years and the cost of repairing damage caused and of relocating prisoners in each case.
The number of disturbances since 1984 are shown in the table below:
Year Number 1984–851 38 1985–86 38 1986–87 45 1987–88 42 1988–89 67 1989–90 67 1990–91 105 1991–92 149 1992–93 142 1993–94 146 1994–13/1/95 96 1 For this year only the figures are for a 15 month period. The attached tables provide details of:
- (a) the more serious disturbances since 1988; and
- (b) the cost of building repair work
We have been able to obtain detailed information on disturbances before June 1988.
In some cases where serious damage was caused, the opportunity was taken to refurbish beyond merely repairing the damage caused by a disturbance. This might mean refurbishing a complete wing or, in the case of Manchester, refurbishment of the whole prison. Where this occurred, it is shown on the table.
The cost involved in transferring prisoners to other establishments as a result of a serious disturbance is not available centrally.
525W
Prison Cost of damage£000 Comments 20 June 1988 to 31 March 1989 Hindley 0 Haverigg 217.8 Lindholme 100.8 Northeye 0 Estimated cost £4.13m—prison closed Whatton 0 Canterbury 0 1April 1998 to 31 March 1990 Spring Hill 0.5 Risley 5,000 Cost of replacing/refurbishing wing Brixton 0 Kirklevington 10 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 Frankland 0 Blundeston 3.2 Manchester 25,000 Excludes full refurbishment costs Bristol 2,600 Cardiff 27.4 526W
Prison Cost of damage £000 Comments Pucklechurch 59.6 Dartmoor 185.6 Glen Parva 22.3 Portland 0.7 Stoke Heath 11.2 Norwich 0 Full Sutton 3.5 Acklington 11.4 Kirklevington 10 Acklington 1.5 Full Sutton 3 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 Full Sutton 22 Full Sutton 3 Norwich 5 Full Sutton 0 Frankland 20 Frankland 3 Lindholme 15 Moorland 196.1 Brinsford 58 Durham 19.7 Kirklevington 20 Haslar 0 Nottingham 0 Whitemoor 0 Wymott 150 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 Durham 5 Full Sutton 164.8 Includes repairs from incident in 1991/92 Frankland 1 Full Sutton 1.3 Lindholme 3 Holme House 6.3 Moorland 22 Dartmoor 0 Highpoint 2.4 Reading 145 Wolds 5 Whitemoor 2.5 Acklington 5.2 Parkhurst 19.8 Leeds 75 Full Sutton 6 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 Wymott 5,000 Excludes costs of rebuilding wings Whitemoor 17 Wolds 23 Haverigg 1 Everthorpe 0 Styal 1.3 Acklington 1 Bullingdon 1 Whitemoor 0.6 Blakenhurst 25 Lindholme 2 1 April 1994 to 13 January 1995 The Verne 0 Styal 2.3 Haslar 0 Highpoint 1.5
Prison Cost of damage £000 Comments Haslar 0 Guys Marsh 0 Everthorpe 130 Estimated Everthorpe Swaleside 1