Injuries incurred by prisoners

2025.07.08

4.5   Deputy S.M. Ahier of the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs regarding injuries incurred by prisoners at HMP La Moye (OQ.169/2025):

Will the Minister state whether the recent number of injuries incurred by prisoners at H.M.P. (His Majesty's Prison) La Moye has been identified as a concern to be addressed; and will she state what action, if any, she is taking to reduce the number of prisoner admissions to hospital?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier North (The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs):

I thank the Deputy for the question. Injuries sustained by prisoners have not been identified as an area of concern at H.M.P. La Moye. The injury data previously provided in response to the Deputy 's written question includes a broad range of incidents, from minor, such as scratches and abrasions to more serious injuries. These injuries result from various activities including sports, work-related tasks and incidents of self-harm. Upon reviewing the data, no specific trends or areas requiring immediate attention have been identified.

1. Deputy S.M. Ahier :

Were any weapons used by prisoners on themselves or on staff members and, if so, how were they obtained?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

This specific information is not recorded in a way that is searchable. However, it would be recorded as part of the report of any relevant incident.

[10:45]

Without conducting an extensive search of all records, I can advise that there was one case where injuries were inflicted with a weapon that required hospital treatment. This involved a broken plate and the assailant was prosecuted through the court system. While there may be further relevant incidents, I would stress that they are very rare. Use or possession of weapons within the prison is not a cause for concern.

2. Deputy K.M. Wilson of St Clement:

According to the latest His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons Inspection Report presented in February this year, the rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults has increased and the rate of assault on staff continues to be of concern. Does the Minister believe or is she aware of any intelligence on the matter that suggests one of the factors involved in this scenario is as a direct consequence of frustrations relating to delays in prisoner transfer to the U.K.?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

In relation to the report, the view of the reporting body was that the prison had a good level of care within the prison. I appreciate that there will always be incidents of assault both on prisoners, against prisoners and prison staff. However, in relation to the point that the Deputy makes about transfers to U.K. prisons, I fully accept what she says, that there are delays. However, those delays are because the U.K. are in a position where their own prisons are very full and we are on a programme of being able to transfer a smaller amount of prisoners. We continue to work with the U.K. Government in relation to this matter alongside the other Crown Dependencies, but of course we can only transfer prisoners when we have the facility to do so.

3. Deputy K.M. Wilson :

Thank you to the Minister for her response. If delays in transfer continue to be a feature of conditions at La Moye, can the Minister tell us what steps she will take to ensure that staff are equipped to manage the risks identified in the report, particularly with regard to overuse of the C.S.U. (Care and Support Unit) and the increasing incidence of self-harm?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

I think the prison has looked at all sorts of incidents in relation to dealing with prisoners, and what I would say is that we are putting policies and procedures in place in order that maybe minor matters that may have been dealt with more in relation to penalising a prisoner, we are looking at more working with them and providing prisoners with more, how can I put it we are rewarding; not rewarding as in financially rewarding but we are sort of positively dealing with people with full positive behaviour is what I am trying to say. What we are actually doing is working with what we have at the moment in order that we can make the experience more positive. We do continue to work with the U.K. and we will continue to do so. There is a lot of work going on in this space with all the Crown Dependencies because we are all in the same position, unfortunately.

4. Deputy S.M. Ahier :

In December of this year, a prisoner is going on trial at the Royal Court for attacking another inmate. Can the Minister advise, is this the only prosecution to take place this year, and are there any others in the pipeline?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

I am aware of that particular prisoner but off the top of my head I am not able to say whether there are some that are going to be coming up within this year. Obviously I am not aware of which prisoner that currently deals with but I am aware of one that will be dealt with by the courts. That will continue to occur if people are dealt with for assaults and other matters within the prison. I will ask the prison governor if they are able to provide me with a list in order that I can provide that information in relation to what the Deputy asks.

Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade :

Point of order, should the Minister be talking about alleged assaults if they have not come to court yet rather than assaults, it might prejudice the case?

The Deputy Bailiff :

Well, I do not think she was alluding to a particular case. I think probably a slip of the tongue, was it not, I would have thought?