Prison reform groups are concerned by a clause in the management of offenders bill that transfers powers from the civil service to prison directors, who are employed by the firm running the prison.
Privately run prisons receive fines for incidents of bad behaviour, which has led to concerns that directors may be tempted to use confinement or restraint to prevent such problems before they occur.
Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "At the moment private prisons have to get the permission of the Home Office controller before using confinement or restraint. Under the bill, that power is now being transferred to the director of the institution."
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