asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each of the last five years, how many prison officers for acts involving maltreatment of prisoners, have been (a) prosecuted and convicted. (b) required to resign, or (c) disciplined in other ways.

During the past five years 13 officers have been prosecuted and convicted for offences relating to the maltreatment of prisoners (two in 1976; one in 1977, seven in 1979 and three in 1980). Three of these officers have been dismissed from the service, seven are suspended from duty pending appeals to the courts and the Civil Service Appeal Board, and three have resigned with their appeals against conviction and dismissal still outstanding. Departmental action has been either deferred or placed in abeyance pending decisions in the outstanding appeals.During the same period six officers have been disciplined in other ways for offences relating to the maltreatment of prisoners (three in 1976; one in 1978 and two in 1979).