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69% increase in prison suicides in 2013-14 (22 October 2014)

Date: 22/10/2014
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, 69% increase in prison suicides in 2013-14

The Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick has said that safety outcomes for prisoners have “significantly declined” in the last ten years, as prisons experience overcrowding, “unprecedented levels of violence” – and the highest level of suicide among inmates in a decade.

The Guardian reports that the Chief Inspector’s annual report flags up that one-third of prisons inspected in the year 2013-2014 were deemed not safe enough, with vulnerable inmates particularly at risk.

The 100-page report also details a 69% increase in the number of suicides in the year 2013-2014. A total of 134 adult prisoners – including four female prisoners – committed suicide in jails in England and Wales. The average rate of suicide in jails is now more than six deaths every month.

However, the increase in the rate of suicides in prisons across England and Wales cannot be attributed to a single cause, the reports states.

“In my view, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the conjunction of resource, population and policy pressures – particularly in the second half of 2013-14 and particularly in adult male prisons – was a very significant factor,” Mr Hardwick suggests.

In prisons housing adult male prisoners, the rate of assaults has increased by around 14% “year on year”, the report says – including one-on-one prisoner violence. There has been a 38% rise in the number of violent assaults in prisons in the last year.

Incidents involving prisoners climbing heights such as netting and railings have virtually doubled, the report reveals. The punishment for such activities is usually segregation from other inmates.

In two-thirds of prisons inspected, prisoners were living in overcrowded conditions – and under-staffing is also thought to be contributing to the rising number of suicides among inmates. The report finds that too many prisoners are spending too much of their time locked in their cells, with vocational opportunities confined to just a few prisons.

The inspectors also found that one-third of prisoners who had committed suicide in prison had been on the assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) system, which is used to support vulnerable prisoners, such as those with a mental health condition.

The inspectors found, however, that in prisons where there were issues such as overcrowding or bullying among inmates, a positive attitude from experienced prison staff could “turn the situation around” and help foster good relationships between inmates and prison staff.

The Chief Inspector said that in some challenging prisons, such as HMP Pentonville in north London, the “heroic” efforts of prison guards and governors who were working “against the odds”, had helped create positive role models to improve relationships with vulnerable and sometimes “needy” vulnerable prisoners with high levels of substance misuse and mental health problems.

Despite some suicides among female prisoners, the report finds that conditions in women’s prisoner are safer – including better inductions for new prisoners and better mental health care and substance misuse programmes.

The report says that failing to identify issues in needy prisoners when they are admitted is one factor in the unsafe conditions in prisons, together with understaffing and overcrowding – and a failure in some cases to implement recommendations about the care of prisoners by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise prisoners on a wide range of issues, including their rights while in custody and PSIs/PSOs.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on ACCT issues such as access to healthcare while in prison, mental health services for prisoners – and legal advice on how to make a no win no fee claim for injuries sustained in an unprovoked attack while in prison.

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers regularly visit police stations, courts and prisons to advise on criminal law, including appeals against convictions and sentencing, Parole Board applications, ROTL, or confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on prisoners’ rights in custody, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.


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