§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the causes of and (b) the methods of dealing with the disturbances at Full Sutton Prison during the week of 25 April. [40541]
§ Ms QuinAt 6.20 pm on 26 April, 32 prisoners on D Wing of Full Sutton prison refused to return to their cells and instead barricaded themselves into the communal association room. Control and restraint trained staff from five other prisons were called to assist Full Sutton, and the police and other emergency services notified as a matter of routine. Despite the efforts of staff to open a dialogue, the prisoners refused to co-operate. At 11.27 pm, in the absence of any sign of the disturbance ending, and with evidence of damage being caused to the room, prison staff commenced an operation to regain control of the area. This was achieved successfully shortly thereafter.
Five staff sustained minor injuries during the incident; seven prisoners also received slight injury. All the prisoners involved have been transferred to other prisons. The police are conducting a criminal investigation into the matter, and charges under prison discipline rules have also been laid against all the prisoners concerned.
The Director General has appointed a senior governor from Prison Service headquarters to undertake an inquiry into the incident. Until this inquiry is complete, I am unable to comment on the possible causes of the disturbance. However, I will write to the hon. Member once I have considered the inquiry report.