Ministry of Justice: Complaints

(asked on 18th July 2019) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints have been made in the last three years in relation the breach of Rule 39; and what steps his Department has taken to resolve those complaints.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 31st July 2019

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) provides training for staff tailored to their specific role in relation to the handling of prisoner communications including Rule 39. Operational support grades who handle mail as part of their core tasks receive appropriate training. Prison officers are trained on some aspects of handling legal documents, such as during cell searches and as part of their initial Prison Officer Entry Level training course. Electronic learning is available for staff engaged in interception and monitoring of prisoners’ communications.

In addition, policy and guidance for staff on Rule 39 is set out in Prison Service Instructions (PSIs) on Prisoner Communication Services (PSI 49/2011) and The Interception of Communications in Prisons and Security Measures (PSI 04/2016), and further guidance to support the operation of these policies was issued to Governors earlier this month.

To confirm the number of complaints received by each prison about Rule 39 over the last 3 years, a search of each prison’s complaints log would be required. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

However, processes are in place for complaints to be raised, and addressed, locally and can be escalated to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, where appropriate. A new Prisoner Complaints Policy Framework will be implemented on 1 August 2019, shaped by feedback received from staff, prisoners and stakeholders during extensive consultation in 2018. This supports staff to resolve prisoners’ issues fairly and effectively at an early stage and implement relevant Lammy review recommendations.

Reticulating Splines