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Mentally Disturbed Prisoners

Volume 984: debated on Monday 12 May 1980

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the offence for which the mentally disturbed prisoner, discharged from Dartmoor on 29 April because of the absence of a hospital place, was imprisoned.

The prisoner had been convicted of malicious wounding and two charges of theft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the offence for which the two mentally disturbed prisoners, who were released to out-patient care after 22 April, were imprisoned.

One of these prisoners had been convicted of malicious wounding and two charges of theft; the other of two charges of burglary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the offences of each of the 19 male prisoners awaiting transfer on 22 April to hospital under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959.

The offences of the 19 prisoners awaiting transfer to hospital on 22 April 1980 were as follows:

  • 1.
  • (i) Causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm
  • (ii) Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
  • 2.
  • (i) Going equipped for theft;
  • (ii) Assault occasioning actual bodily harm;
  • (iii) Assault on Police Constable (2 offences).
  • 3. Harassment (Protection from Eviction Act 1977).
  • 4. Incest.
  • 5. Arson.
  • 6. Burglary.
  • 7.
  • (i) Assault occasioning actual bodily harm;
  • (ii) Possession of dangerous drugs;
  • (iii) Obtaining property by deception;
  • (iv) Unlawful assault;
  • (v) Planting cannabis.
  • 8. Actual bodily harm (2 offences).
  • 9.
  • (i) Malicious wounding;
  • (ii) Theft.
  • 10. Arson.
  • 11.
  • (i) Theft;
  • (ii) Arson.
  • 12. Malicious wounding.
  • 13.
  • (i) Burglary;
  • (ii) Arson.
  • 14.
  • (i) Wounding with intent.
  • 15.
  • (i) Damage to property × 2;
  • (ii) Common assault (2 charges).
  • 16.
  • (i) Assault;
  • (ii) Burglary;
  • (iii) Robbery.
  • 17. Burglary (2 charges).
  • 18. Criminal damage.
  • 19. Burglary.
  • asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that he will not discharge into the community any more mentally disturbed prisoners whom he considers require detention in a hospital under the terms of the Mental Health Act 1959.

    No. If hospital beds have not been made available to such people by their release date, we have no power to detain them further in prison and they must be released.