§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the chaining of a prisoner to an inanimate object; [11932]
(2) if he will list the circumstances under which restraints may be removed from a prisoner; [11933]
(3) if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the use of mechanical restraints on prisoners receiving hospital care; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued by the Prison Service; [11934]
(4) if he will arrange for a copy of the report of the Prison Service's inquiry into the death of Geoffrey Thomas to be placed in the Library; [11935]
(5) what is the current timetable for revising the security manual in respect of new guidelines for restraining prisoners receiving hospital care; and if he will list the major changes. [11931]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility 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. Ron Davies, dated 27 January 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints on prisoners in hospital and the report on the death of Geoffrey Thomas.Current instructions are that a prisoner will be chained to an inanimate object only in the circumstances set out in paragraph 60.18 of the Manual of Security. This states:Unless the doctor (or midwife where relevant) objects for medical reasons, an escort chain should be used to secure the prisoner by one wrist, preferably to an officer, on to an item of furniture if the officer needs to be free to cover an exit.This advise applies only to those prisoners whom the governor judges to require restraint under the criteria set out in the Home Secretary's statement to Parliament on 18 January 1996. A copy is attached.The circumstances in which restraints may be removed from (or not applied to) a prisoner are set out in paragraphs 5.3.4–6, 53.16, 59.11, 59.17, 59.18 and 60.18 of the Manual on Security, a copy is in the Library.The policy in respect of the use of mechanical restraints on prisoners receiving hospital care is set out in the Home Secretary's statement to Parliament of 18 January. (I attach a copy of the subsequent instruction issued by the Director of Security and Programmes on 19 January 1996).You asked if a copy of the report of our inquiry into the death of Geoffrey Thomas will be placed in the Library. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the physical restraint of Geoffrey Thomas in a hospice in Cardiff is nearly complete. The conclusions and any recommendations for changes in practices will be urgently considered. It would be premature to anticipate the outcome of this review in advance of decisions yet to be taken.It is not normal Prison Service practice for a report of an internal inquiry to be published. Therefore there are no plans to place a copy of the report in the Library.