Jail chiefs to probe prisoner moves

The claims relate to the UK's largest jail, Wandsworth, and Pentonville, both in London.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw issued a statement which said it was "neither policy nor acceptable practice temporarily to move prisoners during inspections".

Mr Straw said that Phil Wheatley, director general of the National Offender Management Service, had commissioned a formal investigation into information brought by Dame Anne Owers, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, "concerning the temporary transfer of prisoners in anticipation of HMCIP (Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons) inspections of two prisons".

Mr Straw added: "The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Stephen Shaw, has also drawn our attention to the transfers.

"The Chief Inspector will make her own judgments in her inspection reports on the prisons, due for release shortly, but it is neither policy nor acceptable practice temporarily to move prisoners during inspections.

"The terms of reference for the investigation are: To investigate the circumstances surrounding the temporary transfer of a number of prisoners between HMPs Pentonville and Wandsworth immediately prior to the HMCIP inspections of each prison.

"In particular, I ask you to examine: who proposed and authorised the transfers; the rationale for the transfers; and the circumstances of the actual transfers themselves and whether those transfers took place in line with policy requirements relating to the well-being of prisoners. The investigation is due to report in October at which time I will make a further statement."

Sunday's edition of The Observer said that the investigation concerning two of Britain's biggest jails was threatening the careers of senior Prison Service staff. The newspaper said it had learned that several high-ranking employees at the prisons may face disciplinary action for their role in alleged attempts to dupe Dame Anne.

Dame Anne said she had received information that the two jails were transferring difficult prisoners before her inspections in an attempt to ensure they received positive reports, it added. She is expected to make scathing criticisms of the regimes at the two prisons in two separate reports published this week, it said.