Letter: Broader role for MPs as a safeguard for deportees

Sir: You state in your report on the death of Omasase Lumumba (5 August) that Pentonville Prison was listed by the Prison Reform Trust as among the five jails most likely to employ physical restraints on prisoners, such as canvas jackets, body belts, handcuffs, ankle straps and leather wrist straps.

May I point out that in the three years I have been governor at Pentonville, no canvas jackets, wrist straps or ankle straps have been used. A body belt was used on one occasion only, for a prisoner being transferred out.

The Prison Reform Trust report you referred to was dated 1984.

Yours sincerely,

W. J. ABBOTT

Governor, Pentonville Prison

H M Prison Service

London, SW1