Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

working prison occupied mainly by convicted prisoners. Prisoners on E wing were on the
enhanced regime and had in-cell television.
7.4 Wings G, H, K and I formed the “Top Prison”. They contained cells designed for
one prisoner but which were regularly occupied by two. The cells had “simple sanitation”
(an unscreened toilet in the cell). The Top Prison held mostly remand prisoners. In 1998,
there was no provision to offer prisoners in the Top Prison work or education.
7.5 After an offence against Prison Rules on 24 July Sonny Lodge was based in the
Top Prison until he was moved to the segregation unit on 27 August.
Prisoners’ Facilities
7.6 In 1998 Prison Service Standing Order 4 on Facilities (Standing Order 4,
paragraph 4.23) described the facilities permitted to prisoners and the circumstances in
which they might be withheld. Prisons were required to allow certain facilities to all
prisoners. Other facilities were discretionary. The list of items that prisoners had to be
allowed included, among other things:
at least six newspapers
at least three books
games
hobbies and writing and drawing materials
a radio and another audio player with records, tapes or discs
smoking requisites except where smoking was prohibited.
7.7 Sentenced prisoners were permitted to spend cash, up to a weekly limit specified
by the Governor, through a prison shop (called canteen) and certain mail order
arrangements.
Association
7.8 Whenever practicable, prisoners were to be given the opportunity to take part in
association with other prisoners. Standing Order 4, based on the statutory Prison Rule
45, instructed that a prisoner might be excluded from association only in specified
circumstances. These were:
44
in his own interest or for good order and discipline;