§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is a disciplinary offence for a prisoner to make a false and malicious allegation to the Prisons Ombudsman.
§ Baroness BlatchNo, Prisoners may refer any complaint to the Prisons Ombudsman, who then considers whether it is eligible for investigation under his terms of reference. These complaints may include allegations that could be considered false and malicious. The disciplinary offence of making a false and malicious allegation against an officer was abolished in 1989, partly so as not to inhibit prisoners from raising genuine grievances.