§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made when assistance is provided by state prisons to private prisons for(a) controlling riot situations and (b) other purposes. [44008]
383W
§ Ms QuinThe arrangements made for providing assistance from public sector prisons to a contracted-out prison for dealing with a serious incident are no different from those between public sector prisons. These arrangements are reciprocal between public and private sectors and staff from a contracted-out prison could be used in support of a public sector prison.
A serious incident is one which:
- poses a threat to the control of the whole or part of an establishment; and/or
- involves concerted hostile activities by a group or groups of prisoners; and/or
- may result in the evacuation of the whole or part of the establishment; and/or
- causes the governor/director to require assistance from other establishments and/or the emergency services.
Should a serious incident occur in a contracted-out prison, trained support and specialist staff from the public sector would be provided at the same level as for a similar incident in a public sector prison.
The provision of assistance to a contracted-out prison in the above circumstances does not incur a financial charge to the contractor. Where assistance is provided for other purposes, the cost would be charged to the contractor as appropriate.