Decision report 201204249

Summary

Mr C, who is a prisoner, complained that the prison had decided to put his outgoing mail on the mail intercept scheme. This meant that any non legal or non privileged mail that he sent out of the prison could be opened and read by prison staff. Mr C complained that the decision was unreasonable because there was no evidence to support the prison's position.

Our investigation found that the prison took this decison after a copy of a letter he sent to the council was returned to the prison. When prison staff read the letter, which they were entitled to do, they felt its content was threatening. Because of that, the prison took the decision to place Mr C's outgoing non legal or non privileged mail on the mail intercept scheme. We were satisfied the prison had taken a decision they were entitled to take and because of that, we did not uphold Mr C's complaint.