RE: THE ZAHID MUBAREK INQUIRY WITNESS STATEMENT OF ...

way at the outset and that this approach was of benefit for the long-termrelationshipof staff and prisoners.23. In this particular case the letter was returned by Officer Hogg to Stewart and, inmy presence, she advised him why it was unacceptable. She warned him not towrite in a racist way again and told him that his future mail would all be checked.Although no direct action was taken against Stewart Officer Hogg did made anentry about the letter on Stewart's "flimsy" file.24. I think it was shortly after this, but on the same day, that Senior Officer RobertBenford who, at the time, was working in the Security Office at Feltham where themain files on prisoners were kept, contacted me. He asked me to come over tothe Security Office and he showed me Stewart's security file (such files never goon the wings but are held centrally). It is not unusual for officers (myself included)to go and look at such files but being asked by Security to come only happenedoccasionally. Officers could go from the wing during a shift if staffing levelsallowed or at the start or end of a shift or during lunchtime. I do not know if anyone but me went to see the file.25. Stewart's file was two or three inches thick and was one of the biggest I had everseen. I spent about 5 to 10 minutes looking through it. Mr Benford and I thenhad a brief conversation in which we agreed that Stewart was a danger both tostaff and inmates. He said he would make his staff aware of the content of thesecurity file and I told him that I would write a note for my staff about it.26. Having read the file I formed the impression that Stewart was dangerous and athreat to anyone, staff or fellow in-mate. His file covered acts of violence, use ofweapons (I noted that he had stabbed an inmate in the eye); potential escapeand he had been implicated in a previous prison murder. There was nothing therethat alerted me to the particular possibility that he would carry out a racist attack.Had I not been called by Mr Benford I think it unlikely that I would have gone tosee the security file, just on the basis of my 'feeling' about Stewart.27. Back on the wing I felt it important that staff were warned about Stewart as I6 -926-