§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the special security unit at Whitemoor prison will reopen. [30059]
§ Mr. HowardThe special security unit at Whitemoor prison reopened yesterday. Comprehensive changes have been made to the unit since it closed following the escape attempt last September. These changes are in line with the recommendations in Sir John Woodcock's report. They include: major construction work to upgrade physical security measures; mandatory operating standards which lay down procedures for staff; carefully selected with trained staff, and a reorganised management structure with clear lines of responsibility.
I have also decided to introduce a policy of closed visits for all exceptional risk prisoners in the light of the Prison Service's assessment of their security requirements. By removing all physical contact between prisoner and visitor, the opportunity for the passing of weapons or other illicit items should be eliminated. As a result, all exceptional risk prisoners in the Whitemoor special security unit and the category A unit at Belmarsh prison will be subject to closed visits arrangements. The policy will be applied at the Full Sutton special security unit when it reopens following the construction work necessary to implement the Woodcock recommendations.