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Inquiry ordered into recording of prisoners' calls to MPs | Inquiry ordered into recording of prisoners' calls to MPs |
(35 minutes later) | |
An investigation into the recording of telephone calls between prisoners and their constituency MPs has been ordered by the justice secretary. | An investigation into the recording of telephone calls between prisoners and their constituency MPs has been ordered by the justice secretary. |
Chris Grayling said confidential conversations may have been taped and listened to by prison staff. | Chris Grayling said confidential conversations may have been taped and listened to by prison staff. |
He said the monitoring may have taken place between 2006 and 2012, before the government "tightened up" the system. | He said the monitoring may have taken place between 2006 and 2012, before the government "tightened up" the system. |
Mr Grayling apologised to the Commons and said at least 32 current MPs could have been affected. | Mr Grayling apologised to the Commons and said at least 32 current MPs could have been affected. |
He also said a small number of calls between prisoners and their lawyers could also have been "accidentally" recorded. | He also said a small number of calls between prisoners and their lawyers could also have been "accidentally" recorded. |
Prison rules | |
The justice secretary told MPs an independent investigation would be carried out by the Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick. | The justice secretary told MPs an independent investigation would be carried out by the Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick. |
The investigation will report back by the end of the month to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place, and a full report will be published by early 2015. | |
"This issue stretches back to 2006 and primarily relates to the period prior to autumn 2012 when this government made changes to tighten up the system," Mr Grayling said. | "This issue stretches back to 2006 and primarily relates to the period prior to autumn 2012 when this government made changes to tighten up the system," Mr Grayling said. |
"This is a serious matter and I would like to start by apologising to the House on behalf of my department for any interception of communications between a prisoner and their constituency MP." | "This is a serious matter and I would like to start by apologising to the House on behalf of my department for any interception of communications between a prisoner and their constituency MP." |
He said prison rules clearly state that phone calls between MPs and prisoners who are their constituents must be treated as confidential. | |
Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan asked if there was any evidence the information had been passed on to senior officials. | |
Mr Grayling said there was no evidence to suggest that was the case and most of the recordings had been destroyed. |