HC Deb 05 March 1998 vol 307 cc707-8W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in force to ensure that criminal offences committed by staff in privately-managed prisons are referred to the police and reported to the Prison Service; how many reports of such offences have been made; and if he will make a statement. [32577]

Ms Quin

It is for the contractor, as the employer of staff at privately managed prisons, to refer to the police any criminal offence which the contractor suspects an employee of having committed in the course of duty. The Director is also under a general statutory obligation to assist the Prison Service Controller to discharge his or her duty to keep the operation of the prison under review.

This is given additional force by a contractual requirement for the contractor to notify the Controller of any behaviour by a prisoner custody officer which casts doubt on his or her fitness for certification as a prisoner custody officer. The Prison Service Controller is required by statute to investigate complaints made against prisoner custody officers. If, in the course of an investigation, the Controller considers that a criminal offence has been committed, he or she may refer the matter to the police. The Director is also expected to inform the Controller of any criminal offence alleged to have been committed by other staff that may have a bearing on their suitability to work in a prison.

The number of reports of such incidents is not recorded centrally for any prisons.