asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 21 October (WA 104), whether any of the staff at HM young offender institution Feltham who were involved with the circumstances surrounding the death of Zahid Mubarek are still working at the institution; and what action has been taken to ensure that no similar incident occurs there. [HL5838]

Following the report of the Mubarek inquiry the Prison Service considered whether there was sufficient evidence to bring disciplinary action against any of the 38 staff still employed directly or indirectly by the service identified by the report as having been involved in the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Zahid Mubarek. Of those 38 staff, 27 worked at HM young offender institution Feltham at the time of his death and eight currently work there.

In response to the death of Zahid Mubarek, a national cell sharing risk assessment (CSRA) tool was introduced across the prison estate in June 2002. A violence reduction strategy was introduced in 2004 which is designed to be nationally and locally responsive to any new issues that arise. A revised version, issued in June 2007, incorporates recommendations from the inquiry into the death of Zahid Mubarek, analysis of practice and feedback from consultation with violence reduction co-ordinators (VRCs). The CSRA tool is used in all closed prisons, including Feltham and all other young offender institutions, to assess the risk a prisoner might pose to another prisoner in shared accommodation. The assessment is based on the information that accompanies the prisoner and through a prisoner interview; this includes any known history of violence which is seen as the strongest indicator of potential future violence. An initial assessment takes place on reception, before a prisoner spends their first night in custody.