Mary Coughlan
Ceist:26 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Justice the steps, if any, she will take with a view to improving security arrangements during the transportation of prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2161/97]
Other Questions. - Transport of Prisoners.
Security considerations play a major role in the arrangements for escorts of prisoners, whether between prisons, to court or hospital or for other purposes. The level of security in each case is determined by a number of factors, including the length of sentence being served by the offender, an assessment of the risk of attempted escape and, of course, the potential risk to the community in each case.
Despite the most stringent precautions, however, there will always be an element of risk inherent in transporting prisoners outside the secure confines of the prisons. It is important to keep the level of such incidents in context. In 1996 more than 13,000 prisoners were escorted outside the prisons. In less than one in every thousand of these cases incidents occurred leading to the escape of prisoners and, of these, four prisoners remain at large today.
The Minister is, of course, seriously concerned at any level of escapes from custody wherever and however they occur. As a matter of routine, security of escorts is reviewed after every escape or attempted escape. Following an incident late last year the arrangements for the handcuffing of prisoners were reviewed. New equipment has been adopted which will greatly reduce the possibility of incidents of the type to which I referred. The question of the type and design of vehicle best suited for the transport of prisoners is also being reviewed. The Minister has also ordered a further tightening up of the procedures for searching prisoners prior to and following escorts. These measures will help lower the risk of further similar incidents.
On 21 November last in reply to a parliamentary question the Minister for Justice stated at column 1676 of the Official Report that she was having the handcuffing of prisoners reviewed and that the type and design of vehicle best suited for the transport of prisoners was also being reviewed. Given the importance of a sufficient level of security when transporting criminals, some of whom can be very dangerous, these reviews should be completed by now. Will the Minister of State give an assurance to the House that these reviews will be completed as a matter of urgency?
Some action has been taken. As I stated in my reply, following the incident last year to which the Deputy referred, the arrangements for the handcuffing of prisoners were reviewed. As a result the new equipment has been adopted which will greatly reduce the possibility of incidents of the type referred to in my reply. A promise was given to review the type and design of vehicle best suited for the transport of prisoners and this is being carried out. The Minister has also ordered a further tightening up of the procedures for searching prisoners prior to and following escorts. For obvious reasons, I cannot go into the detail of all the measures which have been introduced.
Is it intended to provide armed escorts for certain prisoners when they are being transported from one place to another?
The less I say about that matter the better. It is in the interests of security not to add to what I said.
Will the Minister of State agree it is infantile to say a review is taking place at a time when incidents have occurred? Will he also agree that if procedures need to be tightened up action should be taken immediately? In an incident in my constituency the prisoner was apprehended but the member of the force was injured, although thankfully not to the detriment of his life. Will the Minister of State agree it is very important for measures to be introduced immediately so as to ensure the safety of those who transport prisoners? Will he also agree that prisoners should be checked before they leave prison to ensure they do not have access to implements which could be used to injure the people transporting them?
As always, I listened very carefully to the Deputy. I am not sure why she used the word "infantile" and she might consider using another word. She may not fully appreciate the difficulties involved. For example, many prisoners can use considerable ingenuity and some people would prefer to avoid the practice of strip searching except in the most necessary of cases. It is very difficult to cover all possible eventualities but a review has been carried out on the use of handcuffs and another review of vehicles is taking place. The Minister and I will listen to constructive suggestions from any side of the House about ways to deal with these unfortunate incidents, many of which are a product of considerable ingenuity.