Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Lord Keen of Elie on 19 December (HL Deb, cols 1530–1540) on the serious disturbance at HM Prison Birmingham, whether they had been warned two months previously of the risk of a riot, and if so, what action, if any, was taken to forestall it.
Answered on
1 February 2017
There is no evidence at this stage that any warning or intelligence had been received indicating that there was an increased risk of serious active concerted indiscipline taking place at HMP Birmingham prior to the disturbance on 16 December.
The Secretary of State for Justice has ordered a full investigation into the disturbance at HMP Birmingham, which will be led by Sarah Payne, adviser to the independent Chief Inspector of Probation and former Director of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in Wales.