Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that prisoners in private prisons are safe from violence.

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) takes the issue of violence in prison very seriously. It has systems in place to deal with perpetrators quickly and robustly, with serious incidents referred to the police for prosecution. Current policy contained in Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 64/2011 states that every verbal or physical act of violence must be challenged.

NOMS is committed to exploring options to continue to reduce violence to ensure prisons are safer places for everyone. It is currently reviewing the policy and practice of the management of violence with the aim of implementing new policy and guidance in early 2015.