§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if male and female prisoners are escorted in the same vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [15222]
§ Miss WiddecombeMale and female prisoners are escorted in the same vehicles at the same time in area 7—east midlands and Humberside—but not elsewhere. In the three years in which this practice has been followed in area 7, no problems have resulted. The vehicles are cellular; female prisoner custody officers are used to handle female prisoners; and careful loading procedures are followed to ensure proper segregation. On the basis of these safeguards, I have agreed that the practice may be extended to the other contract areas.