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3W
Written Answers
26 OCTOBER 2009
Written Answers
4W
In all establishments all mail addressed to inmates is
opened by prison staff and checked for illicit enclosures.
Routinely up to 10 per cent. of mail is censored. Special
arrangements, where stipulated, apply to inmates who
come under the public protection arrangements and are
the subject of sexual offence prevention orders, nonmolestation
orders, or any other directions of the court;
in such cases all in-coming and out-going mail will be
subject to offence-related monitoring.
Prisons: Photographs
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland (1) whether photographs sent to
inmates in prisons in Northern Ireland prisons are
examined by prison staff before delivery; [294334]
(2) what steps are taken when inappropriate
photographs of children are discovered on the premises
of prisons in Northern Ireland; [294341]
(3) whether the photographs kept on walls by
prisoners in prisons in Northern Ireland are regularly
inspected; [294345]
(4) what steps are being taken to prevent inappropriate
photographs of children from (a) entering and (b)
being circulated within prisons in Northern Ireland.
[294346]
Paul Goggins: All incoming mail to inmates in Northern
Ireland prisons is opened by prison staff and examined
for any enclosures. All photographs will be examined by
prison staff before delivery. If a photograph is deemed
inappropriate it will not be forwarded to the prisoner
until the relevant investigations are made.
Each establishment has a designated child protection
co-ordinator who will be informed if an inappropriate
photograph of a child is discovered. The co-ordinator
will advise staff and, on the basis of the initial material,
will make a decision as to whether or not to refer the
matter to social services in the trust area where the child
has a home address. Social services may, in turn, arrange
for notification of the police. The co-ordinator will also,
as appropriate, inform the parents of the actions being
taken.
All prisoners’ cells are regularly inspected and searched
by prison staff. Photographs on walls will be inspected
as part of that process and may be removed as part of
that inspection procedure. If an inappropriate photograph
is found it would be confiscated and investigations
undertaken.
Road Traffic Offences: Prosecutions
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to enable
motoring offences committed in Northern Ireland by
drivers of vehicles originating from the Republic of
Ireland to be prosecuted; whether the Police Service of
Northern Ireland has access to registered keeper details
for vehicles registered in the Republic of Ireland; and if
he will make a statement. [295579]
Paul Goggins: Roads policing policy in Northern
Ireland is a devolved matter for the Department of
Environment. Access to vehicle registers is an operational
matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked the Chief
Constable to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a
copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the
House.
Sexual Offences
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland (1) how many (a) male and (b)
female prisoners in Northern Ireland who (i) have been
convicted of and (ii) are awaiting trial on charges of
sexual offences are housed in each location in each
prison in Northern Ireland; [294333]
(2) how many sex offenders were in prison in
Northern Ireland on 1 September 2009. [294342]
Paul Goggins: As of 19 October 2009 there were (a)
194 males and (b) one female totalling 195 sex offenders
in Northern Ireland prisons. The following table shows
the breakdown of the prisoner custodial category and
their location within each prison.
Establishment House Sentenced (i) Remand (ii) Total
Maghaberry Bann 1 — 1
Braid 1 — 1
Bush 17 20 37
Erne 3 — 3
Glen 2 — 2
Lagan 3 13 16
Pre-release scheme 1 — 1
Roe 6 5 11
Special Supervision Unit 2 — 2
Wilson 4 — 4
Magilligan Alpha 23 — 23
Foyleview 5 — 5
Halward 1 — 1
H Block 1 1 — 1
H Block 2 39 — 39