§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each category D prison for which the Prison Service has responsibility for each of the last five years,(a) how many prisoners have absconded (b) how many prisoners who absconded were caught and returned to prisons, (c) how many prisoners at (b) served all or part of the remainder of their sentence in a category C or above prison, (d) how many prisoners have absconded who have yet to be recaptured and (e) how much annual investment has been made in each of the category D prisons designed to deter absconding; and if he will make a statement.[120516]
§ Paul GogginsCategorisation relates to prisoners not prisons. Category D prisoners are those who it is assessed can be reasonably trusted in open conditions. The information sought is not collated in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The available information is set out in the following table. Data are given in respect of prisons that are now open or semi-open. Drake Hall was a female open prison until January 2002 when it became a semi-open prison. Hatfield open young offender institution became Moorland open prison in 2002. Morton Hall was re-roled from male open to female semi-open in 2000. Data on the number recaptured may be understated due to under-reporting.
No investment has been made in open prisons specifically aimed at deterring absconding, but prisoners allocated to open conditions are selected on the basis of stringent risk assessment procedures. The 741W nature of the regimes in the open estate, with their focus on effective resettlement in the community after release, are designed to encourage the development of personal responsibility on the part of prisoners. Those prisoners who do abscond are usually located in closed, category C, prisons following recapture. In addition to the more
Prison absconders Number of prisoners absconding Prison 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 In total over the five years Number reported as recaptured by 17 June 2003 Number not reported as recaptured by 17 June 2003 Askham Grange 21 20 21 20 12 94 56 38 Blantyre House 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 Drake Hall 122 93 38 32 0 285 267 18 East Sutton Park 3 2 3 2 0 10 8 2 Ford 38 68 57 54 91 308 257 51 Hatfield/Moorland 68 36 35 50 56 244 228 16 Hewell Grange 16 32 20 15 23 106 76 30 Hollesley Bay 24 11 24 8 14 81 80 1 Kirkham 196 173 169 164 209 911 852 59 Kirklevington Grange 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Latchmere House 0 0 1 2 1 4 1 3 Leyhill 24 34 25 17 33 133 96 37 Morton Hall 16 23 6 0 0 45 44 1 North Sea Camp 27 29 24 36 34 150 13 16 Usk/Prescoed 13 19 14 5 8 59 51 8 Grendon/Spring Hill 9 14 14 12 23 72 53 19 Standford Hill 4 35 29 37 81 184 132 52 Sudbury 64 62 69 79 68 342 317 25 Thorn Cross 123 147 108 137 152 667 619 48 Wealstun 67 72 116 79 103 437 380 57
§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison cells there are; and of these how many are regarded as safe cells. [120724]
§ Paul GogginsThe number of available prison cells changes daily as a result of construction and change in use. At present, the number of cells in use is approximately 45,000. Almost 3,000 safer cells have been installed.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to expand the capacity of existing prisons to meet the forecast average population of the prison estate for 2004. [119569]
§ Paul GogginsFunding from the May 2002 budget was provided for 2,320 places to be delivered over the following 12 months.
In addition, we have already announced that £60 million will be made available to provide 740 places by March 2004, together with funding for 450 places at Birmingham prison, which are currently scheduled to open by April 2004. A further £138 million has been agreed from the Budget, which will be used to build around 1,000 places over the period 2004–06.
Provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill will provide sentencers with a range of new disposals to enable them to impose tough and flexible sentences on offenders who do not need to be given custodial sentences. We are also introducing tough new community sentences such as the 'Intensive Control and Change programme' (ICCP) aimed at cutting offending by 18 to 20-year-olds by tackling their offending behaviour and aiding rehabilitation. We have also extended the Home Detention Curfew scheme to increase the maximum period to four and a half months. 742W limited regime and greater restrictions which apply in such prisons, prisoners who abscond are likely to receive a punishment involving added days and the loss of various privileges. Where eligible, such prisoners would also be extremely unlikely to secure early release on home detention curfew licence.
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unfilled positions there were in the Prison Service in each month since June 2002; by what percentage the Prison Service is understaffed in each prison in the UK; and what measures his Department is taking to increase the number of prison officers into the Prison Service.[120170]
§ Paul GogginsThe number of unfilled prison officer grade positions in the Prison Service for each month since June 2002 is shown in Table A. The percentage shortfall in each prison in England and Wales within the public sector is contained in Table B. It has not been possible to collate this information for contracted out prisons and I shall write to the hon. Member when the information is available.
There are a number of measures under way to increase recruitment and retention. The National Staffing Unit successfully increased prison officer recruitment from an average 1,000 a year to 2,096 during 2002–03. In line with all other recruitment, responsibility for officer recruitment has now been devolved to area and establishment level in order that areas of specific need can be addressed more effectively by local advertising and recruitment campaigns. The majority of applicants wish to work in their home area and are not prepared to move to where establishments have vacancies. Recruitment campaigns have been and continue to be run in areas where shortages are identified and provision has been made to train a further 2,200 new officers during the current financial year.
Shortfalls have occurred at a number of establishments where additional accommodation has been built and recruitment has increased the pressure on 743W training course places. Many establishments which are currently understaffed have recruited staff and are awaiting their availability to start training.
In addition, local allowances have been introduced to assist in the retention of staff in areas of high turnover.
Table A Staff in post Planned posts Shortfall Percentage under staffed June 2002 22,897.5 23,785.1 887.6 3.88 July 2002 22,915 23,785.1 870.1 3.80 August 2002 22,924 23,785.1 861.1 3.76 September 2002 23,015.5 24,073.1 1,057.6 4.60 October 2002 23,109.5 24,073.1 963.6 4.17 November 2002 23,088.5 24,073.1 984.6 4.26 December 2002 23,090.5 24,214.6 1,124.1 4.87 January 2003 23,223.5 24,214.6 991.1 4.27 February 2003 23,246.5 24,214.6 968.1 4.16 March 2003 23,320.5 24,310.85 990.35 4.25 April 2003 23,356.5 24,310.85 954.35 4.09 May 2003 23,383.5 24,310.85 927.35 3.97 744W
Table B Staff in post Planned posts Percentage under staffed Highpoint North 87 112 22.32 Highdown 243.5 295 17.46 Lancaster Farms 202.5 243 16.67 Erlestoke 102 121.5 16.05 Bullingdon 212.5 253 16.01 Bullwood Hall 76.5 90 15.00 Downview 98 115 14.78 Exeter 173.5 201 13.68 Bristol 266 308 13.64 Askham Grange 29.5 34 13.24 Send 65 74 12.16 Wormwood Scrubs 278 316 12.03 Haslar 46 52 11.54 Hindley 250.5 282 11.17 Dorchester 80 90 11.11 Feltham 417.5 468 10.79 Whitemoor 475 529 10.21 Belmarsh 490 543.5 9.84 Lancaster 80.5 89 9.55 Gloucester 119.5 132 9.47 Holloway 261 288 9.38 Portland 156.5 172.5 9.28 Long Lartin 361 397 9.07 Warren Hill 137 150.5 8.97 Grendon 154 169 8.88 Leyhill 67 73.5 8.84 Drake Hall 81 88.5 8.47 Brixton 221 241 8.30 Rochester 136 147.5 7.80 North Sea Camp 38.5 41.75 7.78 Eastwood Park 116.5 126 7.54 Garth 215 232.5 7.53 Lincoln 211 228 7.46 Bedford 139.5 150 7.00 Hewell Grange 29.5 31.6 6.65 Huntercombe 159 170 6.47 The Mount 150 160 6.25 Ford 61 65 6.15 Littlehey 144 153 5.88 CookhamWood 56.5 60 5.83 Thorn Cross 105 111.5 5.83 Acklington 218.5 232 5.82 Onley 223.5 237 5.70 Stafford 164.5 174 5.46 Frankland 471.5 498.5 5.42 Werrington 79.5 84 5.36 Albany 142 150 5.33 Woodhill 434 457 5.03 Camp Hill 143.5 151 4.97 Wellingborough 135 142 4.93 Morton Hall 107.5 113 4.87 Preston 234.5 246 4.67 Wakefield 358 375 4.53
Table B Staff in post Planned posts Percentage under staffed Northallerton 65 68 4.41 Gartree 144.5 151 4.30 Deerbolt 176 183 3.83 Liverpool 495.5 515 3.79 Durham 408.5 424 3.66 New Hall 186 193 3.63 Dover 109 113 3.54 Lindholme 192 199 3.52 Blundeston 152.5 158 3.48 Parkhurst 190 196 3.06 Guys Marsh 143.5 148 3.04 Brockhill 99 102 2.94 Low Newton 139 143 2.80 Blantyre House 35 36 2.78 Brinsford 229 235.5 2.76 Wayland 152 156 2.56 Wymott 208 213 2.35 Stocken 147.5 151 2.32 Aylesbury 170.5 174.5 2.29 Kirklevington 44 45 2.22 Pentonville 384 392.5 2.17 Nottingham 181 185 2.16 Wetherby 161.5 165 2.12 Lewes 173.5 177 1.98 Castington 210 214 1.87 Weare 109.5 111.5 1.79 Ranby 225 229 1.75 Wandsworth 367 373.5 1.74 Cardiff 235 239 1.6 Glen Parva 250 254 1.57 Chelmsford 191.5 194 1.29 Wealstun 154 156 1.28 Hollesley Bay 41.5 42 1.19 Usk/Prescoed 87 88 1.14 Standford Hill 89 90 1.11 Full Sutton 478.5 483.5 1.03 Maidstone 192 194 1.03 Hull 339.5 343 1.02 Stoke Heath 232 234 0.85 Haverigg 127.5 128.5 0.78 Sudbury 66.5 67 0.75 Featherstone 142 143 0.70 Holme House 307 308.5 0.49 Buckley Hall 109.5 110 0.45 Channings Wood 161.5 162 0.31 Winchester 219 198.5 0.00 Whatton 93 92 0.00 The Verne 108 105.5 0.00 Swinfen Hall 119 119 0.00 Swansea 128 128 0.00 Swaleside 243.5 238 0.00 Styal 171 169 0.00 Shrewsbury 104.5 102 0.00 Shepton Mallet 65 65 0.00 Risley 306.5 301 0.00 Reading 115.5 114.5 0.00 Norwich 230 229 0.00 Moorland 335.5 331 0.00 Manchester 421 416 0.00 Leicester 131 122 0.00 Leeds 417.5 414.5 0.00 Latchmere House 39 39 0.00 Kirkham 87 85 0.00 Kingston 77 73 0.00 Highpoint South 199 168 0.00 Foston Hall 87 83.5 0.00 Everthorpe 121 121 0.00 Elmley 255 242 0.00 East Sutton Park 24.5 22.5 0.00 Dartmoor 178.5 175 0.00 Coldingley 99 98 0.00 Canterbury 116.5 110 0.00 Blakenhurst 177 166 0.00 Birmingham 381 319 0.00 Ashwell 114.5 111.5 0.00
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made 745W of the adequacy of arrangements to prevent prisoners receiving medication attempting to take an overdose; [119797]
(2) what guidance is given to prisons about the staffing of prison hospital wings by non hospital wing staff; [119799]
(3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of medical training given to prison hospital staff. [119800]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 17 June 2003]: We intend to publish the report of a review of pharmacy services for prisoners very shortly. The national occupational standards for custodial health care set out the competencies required for the administration of medication, including in circumstances where there is a risk of self-harm.
The "Toolkit for Health Care Needs Assessment in Prisons" (University of Birmingham February 2000) provided guidance for prisons and the NHS on the planning requirements for health care services for prisoners. The organisation and staffing of health care centres are matters to be determined by prison governors, in consultation with their local NHS partners. The level and mix of staff at different times of the day are decided locally, subject to the same considerations as for other areas of the prison.
Within the context of the prison health reforms, specific studies were carried out on the training and other developmental needs of prison doctors, nurses and
746W
1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Acklington 901 23 319 7 431 10 544 13 Albany 399 9 116 4 128 5 119 4 Ashwell 98 5 72 5 144 2 286 7 Askham Grange 209 8 269 4 266 3 448 4 Aylesbury 769 38 1,314 34 839 18 873 19 Bedford 528 26 614 30 717 20 1,037 18 Belmarsh 1,448 34 2,344 56 3,161 105 3,180 79 Birmingham 1,338 30 2,426 53 1,105 34 1,086 29 Blakenhurst — — — — 291 11 1,194 25 Blantyre House 129 1 27 1 0 0 11 1 Blundeston 516 18 604 17 525 12 453 16 Brinsford 649 21 539 20 516 12 694 16 Bristol 1,612 45 2,025 41 845 25 973 25 Brixton 1,064 27 3,051 56 2,251 48 1,635 40 Brockhill 513 11 625 12 695 15 839 23 Buckley Hall 81 6 61 6 538 11 469 11 Bullingdon 649 24 1,414 41 700 37 1,446 70 Bullwood Hall 334 8 249 10 220 10 46 4 Camp Hill 439 12 96 7 44 4 115 9 Canterbury 682 20 689 20 357 15 686 13 Cardiff 763 21 1,076 26 1,328 31 819 22 Castington 1,956 28 1,743 30 2,192 36 1,608 19 Channings Wood 46 4 54 6 664 10 429 12 Chelmsford 1,356 28 434 18 693 13 514 13 Coldingley 153 5 269 2 394 13 224 9 Cookham Wood 108 2 60 3 1 2 109 7 Dartmoor 684 18 879 31 1,073 17 1,919 36 Deerbolt 465 12 453 10 280 6 617 18 Dorchester 708 5 360 5 135 3 213 2 Dover 317 8 477 9 471 7 312 4 Downview 576 14 386 11 414 8 452 11 Drake Hall 297 11 321 6 504 15 282 8 Durham 1,132 27 1,011 34 2,056 36 2,010 45 East Sutton Park 15 2 0 0 19 1 101 4 Eastwood Park 355 12 264 15 1,088 20 828 17 Elmley 620 16 750 23 639 27 777 41 health care officers. The recommendations in these reports, which are available at: www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/ publications, have been accepted and are in the process of being implemented.
A report into the circumstances surrounding the act of self-harm by a prisoner on 9 June 2003 at Woodhill prison was received by the Prison Service on 13 June. This was forwarded to Ministers on 17 June 2003, along with the Prison Service's response. I made a written ministerial statement on 19 June 2003, Official Report, column 13WS about the findings of the inquiry.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) sick days were taken and (b) prison officers were on sick leave owing to mental health problems in each prison in each year since 1997. [120104]
§ Paul GogginsSickness absence is recorded in terms of the reason for absence. The following table provides the number of working days lost and cases recorded among officer grade staff for psychological conditions in each year since April 1999. Reliable sickness absence information is not available prior to 1999.
Data relates to prison officer, senior officer and principal officer grades. Over the period, the number of officers in post has risen from 23,875 at 31 March 1999 to 24,825 at 31 March 2003. Information on contracted out prisons is not available as it is commercial in confidence.
747W748W749W
1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Erlestoke 275 7 289 12 374 6 533 8 Everthorpe 27 3 383 6 11 2 132 5 Exeter 677 20 646 15 999 24 1,027 30 Featherstone 263 14 162 5 137 5 75 7 Feltham 1,623 39 1,804 38 2,129 44 1,131 60 Ford 1 1 50 3 32 3 182 6 Foston Hall 206 5 341 10 306 12 279 9 Frankland 471 15 904 25 1,185 28 1,011 21 Full Sutton 1,256 40 1,198 38 2,304 49 2,028 36 Garth 813 19 1,430 21 822 12 989 16 Gartree 799 16 699 8 761 8 457 10 Glen Parva 692 20 1,301 22 462 15 1,535 30 Gloucester 559 7 664 12 856 15 982 23 Grendon 321 6 784 21 1,198 19 1,438 30 Guys Marsh 399 7 330 8 461 10 1,070 15 Haslar 117 9 65 2 299 3 294 4 Haverigg 513 8 409 12 793 27 571 13 Hewell Grange 0 0 2 1 135 2 124 2 Highdown 894 22 1,152 30 1,234 29 1,409 25 Highpoint 402 18 722 16 218 7 321 9 Highpoint North — — — — 352 9 406 12 Hindley 71 7 380 12 417 15 1,534 26 Hollesley Bay 818 9 540 13 701 16 391 5 Holloway 1,746 42 2,386 48 2,060 51 2,439 57 Holme House 904 19 954 22 789 24 1,510 30 Hull 194 10 567 19 578 13 950 22 Huntercombe 453 8 1,033 23 1,189 30 569 32 Kingston 144 9 83 7 125 4 218 6 Kirkham 155 9 189 8 108 2 154 3 Kirklevington 64 2 0 0 136 3 61 2 Lancaster 25 2 229 14 229 5 460 9 Lancaster Farms 851 20 978 12 546 15 415 13 Latchmere House 0 0 11 1 89 5 50 7 Leeds 1,339 57 1,110 38 1,913 43 1,904 45 Leicester 131 10 603 14 657 11 1,064 16 Lewes 927 22 854 20 798 21 1,099 29 Leyhill 269 3 166 6 463 9 221 5 Lincoln 311 6 413 10 263 8 2,166 50 Lindholme 420 6 604 17 664 15 1,202 23 Littlehey 494 19 1,086 14 1,466 21 767 15 Liverpool 826 20 2,689 56 2,550 42 2,507 46 Long Lartin 811 23 1,241 23 553 17 365 18 Low Newton 71 3 135 8 288 9 243 10 Maidstone 729 17 790 18 927 25 1,690 26 Manchester 2,529 44 2,509 49 3,019 63 3,591 52 Moorland 409 14 821 29 998 16 1,173 27 Morton Hall 203 4 8 1 136 9 399 13 New Hall 334 11 93 6 451 12 882 20 North Sea Camp 1 1 190 5 223 12 144 15 Northallerton 284 8 172 5 82 4 54 3 Norwich 486 9 631 19 593 19 1,171 29 Nottingham 968 23 420 10 356 16 724 21 Onley 634 21 896 29 1,544 32 1,946 35 Parkhurst 585 12 565 14 1,568 26 1,225 19 Pentonville 1,115 38 1,012 40 1,799 56 1,744 37 Portland 731 28 1,183 29 1,281 21 528 7 Preston 1,095 25 1,217 22 1,044 18 1,057 24 Ranby 341 7 55 6 349 14 781 21 Reading 127 2 874 18 778 14 571 17 Risley 1,714 20 1,032 20 1,692 28 3,938 55 Rochester 469 8 417 18 793 13 2,091 28 Send 46 6 222 16 828 44 127 8 Shepton Mallet 158 5 230 6 24 6 148 4 Shrewsbury 280 8 348 5 967 8 719 8 Stafford 1,186 25 805 31 1,654 28 1,207 25 Standford Hill 696 11 137 7 30 1 381 8 Stocken 269 7 251 9 341 5 305 7 Stoke Heath 999 14 679 12 664 26 1,332 23 Styal 943 18 630 15 699 9 540 18 Sudbury 82 6 266 3 314 10 221 9 Swaleside 239 13 786 18 1,592 22 1,184 21
1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Working days lost Cases Swansea 110 4 544 14 666 9 547 6 Swinfen Hall 75 4 11 1 115 6 274 7 The Mount 299 10 534 16 174 8 311 15 The Verne 64 4 66 5 169 10 49 4 Thorn Cross 162 5 217 10 497 14 689 15 Usk/Prescoed 115 1 9 3 68 5 500 10 Wakefield 928 21 1,002 25 1,950 40 2,023 43 Wandsworth 538 18 982 33 1,716 26 2,434 51 Warren Hill — — — — — — 579 9 Wayland 166 5 109 8 192 5 349 8 Wealstun 579 10 309 8 201 8 180 7 Weare 744 21 630 24 338 12 356 10 Wellingborough 427 12 569 16 490 11 814 24 Werrington 446 9 590 11 191 10 234 7 Wetherby 341 9 477 21 1,149 17 749 11 Whatton 129 5 66 3 21 2 138 4 Whitemoor 1,037 33 2,385 39 3,044 56 1,776 46 Winchester 2,010 40 1,307 29 1,299 45 1,296 41 Woodhill 1,100 34 1,502 38 2,868 58 3,441 70 Wormwood Scrubs 3,579 69 2,412 54 2,354 74 2,525 53 Wymott 394 8 639 18 1,030 27 747 20 HQ 501 6 539 9 977 10 713 8 Total 74,637 1,894 87,117 2,188 101,629 2,360 114,228 2,583
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of(a) suicide, (b) self-harm and (c) violence against staff or inmates have occurred at HMP Styal in each month since January. [120166]
§ Paul GogginsThe following tables give the information requested.
Month (2003) Number of self- inflicted deaths Number of instances of self-harm January 1 25 February 0 42 March 0 39 April 1 30 May 0 Not available June1 1 Not available Total 3 136 1 up to 17 June 2003
Month (2003) Number of assaults against staff Number of assaults against prisoners January 4 1 February 3 0 March 5 0 April 4 4 May 4 0 June1 Not available Not available Total 20 5 1 up to 17 June 2003 Emerging findings from a group examining recent deaths in custody at Styal have helped to bring about a number of immediate changes. These include the maximisation of prisoners' access to work, education and time out of cell, as well as to various peer support schemes and mental health professionals; improvements to Styal's induction programme; and an improved package of training and support for staff in first-aid and management of suicidal women.
750WIn the longer term, 200,000 of funding has been secured to dedicate part of Styal's Waite wing to a proposed high-risk activity team, which will include staff specially trained in risk identification and management. NHS funding has been secured to provide a methadone maintenance programme for women dependent on opiates (subject to staff recruitment), a particular necessity in the female estate where a high percentage of receptions are poly-drug users.
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to(a) reduce overcrowding in prisons, (b) reduce the number of security incidents in prisons reported to the Home Office each week and (c) improve the vetting procedures for employing prison officers into the Prison Service.[120167]
§ Paul GogginsFunding has been provided for 2,820 extra prison places to be built at existing prisons. In addition, two new prisons will be opened at Ashford and Peterborough. Together with building programmes in progress, these will increase the total useable capacity of the Prison Service estate from 74,138 (as at 19 June 2003) to around 78,700 by 2006.
Provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill will provide sentencers with a range of new disposals to enable them to impose tough and flexible sentences on offenders who do not need to be given custodial sentences. We are also introducing tough new community sentences such as the 'Intensive Control and Change programme' aimed at cutting offending by 18 to 20-year-olds by tackling their offending behaviour and aiding rehabilitation. We have also extended the Home Detention Curfew scheme to increase the maximum period to four and a half months. Whatever the population pressures, the Government are uncompromising in its response to serious and dangerous offenders: where there is a need to protect the public, they will be held in a secure environment.
751WPrisons are required to report security incidents to Prison Service headquarters. The number of reported incidents in prisons has increased over recent years. In part this is due to improved reporting, although both the number and rate of incidents has increased. Incident data is monitored and analysed so that policy and procedures can be reviewed in order to minimise future incidents and disseminate best practice. Key performance indicators on escapes, assaults and drug testing focus managers and staff on preventing these types of security incidents and self inflicted deaths.
Major initiatives aimed at minimising security incidents include a review of the security manual, a programme of perimeter security improvements in selected prisons and a security awareness programme. Improved analysis and research into the pattern and causes of incidents, including those of concerted indiscipline and hostage taking, is under way.
The Safer Custody Group is working on a violence reduction strategy that will focus on prevention. This mirrors similar approaches taken in the community and in other organisations. Work is already under way to increase the problem-solving capacity of staff and prisoners, improve risk management, reduce violent offending and prevent victimisation.
The Prison Service Drug Strategy includes a co-ordinated package of measures to reduce both the supply of—and demand for—drugs in prison. These include improving CCTV in visits areas, providing additional drug detection dogs, introducing comprehensive measures to deal with visitors who attempt to smuggle drugs, research into the most effective electronic drug-detection equipment, better use of fixed and low-level furniture, and improving drugs awareness training for staff. In February 2003, the Prison Service announced the Supply Reduction Project (SRP)—a co-ordinated programme that aims to support establishments reduce still further the supply of drugs in prisons.
In addition to these centrally led initiatives, establishments have developed local programmes tailored to their particular circumstances. These include violence reduction and anti-bullying programmes. Minimising the number of security incidents is essential to the safe custody of prisoners and to the protection of prisoners and staff. However, the number of incidents will increase as population increases and it should be recognised that the majority of incidents other than escapes, assaults and deaths are quickly and safely resolved by Prison Service staff through the use of good contingency planning and incident resolution procedures.
A formal investigation into the circumstances of the employment of a journalist at Woodhill is scheduled to report by 27 June 2003. The terms of reference include a requirement to ascertain what took place and recommend changes to recruitment and pre-appointment vetting procedures. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the findings of the report. The Prison Service will consider urgently what action to take in the light of the recommendations.