HC Deb 26 February 1997 vol 291 cc214-6W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) further to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, column 736, at what level of the Prison Service the decision was made to introduce a closed-loop video system for use in the prisoners' strip search room at Long Lartin prison; what external legal advice was sought prior to its introduction; and at what date Ministers were informed; [16629]

(2) who carried out the evaluation of the closed-loop video system for use in the prisoners' strip search room at Long Lartin prison; and if he will list the principal conclusions of that evaluation; [16630]

(3) pursuant to his answer of 23 January, Official Report, column 736, when prisoners who had their earnings stopped or deducted on adjudication for refusing to undergo video-recorded strip searches received (a) an explanation and (b) an apology following the quashing of the adjudication; [16631]

(4) when prisoners at HM prison, Long Lartin were informed of the discontinuation of the closed-loop video system introduced for use in the prisoners' strip search room; when the cameras were removed; and how many prisoners were subject to disciplinary measures for refusing to be strip searched on the grounds that the search would be video-recorded; [16632]

(5)on what precise date video tapes recording random strip searches of prisoners at HM prison, Long Lartin in 1996 were destroyed; on what dates their destruction was ordered; and what grade of officer was instructed to supervise this process; [16633]

(6) if he will conduct an inquiry to establish whether unauthorised copies of the video recording of intimate body searches at Long Lartin were made. [16659]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answers 20 February 1997]: Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 26 February 1997. The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of video recording during the strip searching of prisoners at Long Lartin prison, its withdrawal from use and disciplinary measures taken against prisoners who refused to under video-recorded strip searches. The Woodcock and Learmont reports indicated that much greater use should be made of CCTV and video in prisons as aids to security and safety, including during searching procedures. The use of video during the strip searching of prisoners at Long Lartin was one of a number of new uses of video and/or CCTV introduced as part of the upgrading of dispersal prisons recommended by Sir John Woodcock. The overall upgrading programme was approved by me. Legal advice was not sought before the introduction of any new uses of video or CCTV. Ministers were kept informed in general terms of progress on the implementation of the Woodcock recommendations. They were not advised on the detailed operational aspects of implementation including the specific uses of video and CCTV. The use of video during the strip searching of prisoners at Long Lartin was evaluated after four months of operation. The evaluation, carried out by the Directorate of Dispersals and Security Group at Prison Service Headquarters, concluded that the use of video recording did not provide sufficient improvement in the degree of protection to prisoners or staff to justify its continuance at Long Lartin or its introduction elsewhere. The first prisoner to challenge his adjudication and have the result quashed was given an explanation on his complaint and request form in October 1996. The procedure for informing prisoners was then reviewed and each subsequent prisoner received a letter during December 1996 explaining that the Director of Dispersals had reviewed their case and since the study was a pilot the disciplinary awards had been quashed. Each prisoner was also contacted to inform them what this would mean in their individual case. A general notice to prisoners concerning the discontinuation of video recording during strip searches was not published. Prisoners were informed of the discontinuation on an individual basis. The cameras have not yet been physically removed, they have been disconnected and the recording facility has been removed. The system is therefore inoperative. Ten prisoners were subject to disciplinary measures for refusing to be strip searched on the grounds that the search would be video recorded. The video tapes which recorded the strip searches have not been destroyed. The tapes have been properly stored in a sealed bag and placed in a safe. The tapes will be incinerated in due course under properly supervised conditions. No unauthorised copies of video recordings were made at Long Lartin prison. The authorised video recordings which took place were of strip searches not of intimate body searches.