ALLEGED RACIST INCIDENTS AT HM PRISON WHITEMOOR

Early day motion 1563, tabled 6 February 2006 by Diane Abbott (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House welcomes the investigation by Operation Pond into alleged systematic racial assaults, racist abuse and brutality by prison officers at HM Prison Whitemoor; notes that solicitors at the Prisoners' Advice Service have expressed concerns that the largest number of such complaints persistently come from prisoners held at Whitemoor; further notes that 52 per cent. of black and minority ethnic prisoners at Whitemoor have reported experiencing racial discrimination in the past six months; deplores the number and seriousness of reported incidents; and calls on the Government to take action on racism in prisons by supporting a full investigation into these incidents as well as putting pressure on the Prison Service to implement the 2003 Commission for Racial Equality action plan to stamp out institutional racism in the Prison Service.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, DUP 4, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.