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Prisons fail to act on inmates' suicide risks, says watchdog Prisons fail to act on inmates' suicide risks, says watchdog
(7 months later)
Clues that prisoners may take their own lives are too often missed, a watchdog has warned.Clues that prisoners may take their own lives are too often missed, a watchdog has warned.
Known factors indicating a heightened risk – such as a history of suicidal behaviour or the circumstances of the inmate’s offence – are sometimes overlooked, the prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO) said.Known factors indicating a heightened risk – such as a history of suicidal behaviour or the circumstances of the inmate’s offence – are sometimes overlooked, the prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO) said.
It follows a previous review of self-inflicted deaths of prisoners which found that a significant number occurred in the first month in prison.It follows a previous review of self-inflicted deaths of prisoners which found that a significant number occurred in the first month in prison.
The warning comes after the recent deaths in custody of Michelle Barnes and Sarah Reed. Barnes, 33, killed herself in a prison in Durham six days after giving birth to a baby girl and shortly after being taken off suicide watch.The warning comes after the recent deaths in custody of Michelle Barnes and Sarah Reed. Barnes, 33, killed herself in a prison in Durham six days after giving birth to a baby girl and shortly after being taken off suicide watch.
Reed, 32, was found dead in her cell while being held on remand in Holloway prison in January. She had told her family she fought back against a sexual assault while being held in a secure mental health unit, only to find herself facing a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.Reed, 32, was found dead in her cell while being held on remand in Holloway prison in January. She had told her family she fought back against a sexual assault while being held in a secure mental health unit, only to find herself facing a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
Related: If Cameron really cared he would cut prisoner numbers | Polly Toynbee
Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen said: “The early days and weeks of custody are often a difficult time for prisoners and a period of particular vulnerability for those at risk of suicide.Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen said: “The early days and weeks of custody are often a difficult time for prisoners and a period of particular vulnerability for those at risk of suicide.
“The Prison Service has introduced reception, first night and induction processes to help identify and reduce this risk.“The Prison Service has introduced reception, first night and induction processes to help identify and reduce this risk.
“Some prisoners have obvious factors, such as mental ill-health or a lack of experience of prison, that indicate that they are at heightened risk of suicide, but my investigations too often find that staff have failed to recognise or act on them – with potentially fatal consequences.”“Some prisoners have obvious factors, such as mental ill-health or a lack of experience of prison, that indicate that they are at heightened risk of suicide, but my investigations too often find that staff have failed to recognise or act on them – with potentially fatal consequences.”
The watchdog cited a number of cases, including one in which a man charged with a violent offence was found hanged in his cell. His family, probation officer and solicitor had contacted the prison to alert staff about his risk of suicide.The watchdog cited a number of cases, including one in which a man charged with a violent offence was found hanged in his cell. His family, probation officer and solicitor had contacted the prison to alert staff about his risk of suicide.
The PPO said: “We were concerned that there were no clear reception procedures to ensure that staff working in reception understood their responsibilities.The PPO said: “We were concerned that there were no clear reception procedures to ensure that staff working in reception understood their responsibilities.
“Not all the staff in reception saw all the information they needed to assess his risk, information was not shared and no one recorded his risk factors or the reasons they had decided not to begin ACCT (Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork) procedures.”“Not all the staff in reception saw all the information they needed to assess his risk, information was not shared and no one recorded his risk factors or the reasons they had decided not to begin ACCT (Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork) procedures.”
Too often staff in prison receptions make decisions based on their perceptions of an inmate’s presentation and statements from the prisoner that they do not have any thoughts or intention of suicide or self-harm, the report added.Too often staff in prison receptions make decisions based on their perceptions of an inmate’s presentation and statements from the prisoner that they do not have any thoughts or intention of suicide or self-harm, the report added.
It listed a number of lessons to be learned including a need for staff to identify, record and act on all known risk factors during reception and inductions for all prisoners.It listed a number of lessons to be learned including a need for staff to identify, record and act on all known risk factors during reception and inductions for all prisoners.
Figures show there were 89 apparent self-inflicted deaths in prison custody last year.Figures show there were 89 apparent self-inflicted deaths in prison custody last year.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “It is well known that people entering an institution are particularly vulnerable.Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “It is well known that people entering an institution are particularly vulnerable.
“It is therefore concerning that recommendations have to be repeated because they have not been acted on. Meanwhile, people are dying.“It is therefore concerning that recommendations have to be repeated because they have not been acted on. Meanwhile, people are dying.
“We are waiting for bold action to address the prison crisis, as the only way to save lives, reduce reoffending and make prisons safer is to reduce the number of people detained.”“We are waiting for bold action to address the prison crisis, as the only way to save lives, reduce reoffending and make prisons safer is to reduce the number of people detained.”
Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “The Prison Service has worked hard to improve its procedures, particularly in relation to first night, reception and induction, and had begun to succeed in making custody safer.”Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “The Prison Service has worked hard to improve its procedures, particularly in relation to first night, reception and induction, and had begun to succeed in making custody safer.”
She added that “wider questions need to be asked about whether we are locking up too many vulnerable people in bleak, overcrowded and under-resourced institutions”.She added that “wider questions need to be asked about whether we are locking up too many vulnerable people in bleak, overcrowded and under-resourced institutions”.
Last week David Cameron set out plans for wide-ranging reform of the prison system.Last week David Cameron set out plans for wide-ranging reform of the prison system.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “As the prime minister said last week, prisons are failing to treat prisoners’ mental health problems as well as they should.A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “As the prime minister said last week, prisons are failing to treat prisoners’ mental health problems as well as they should.
“If we fail to fix this issue, offenders will leave prison just as likely to commit crime – and create more victims – as when they arrived.“If we fail to fix this issue, offenders will leave prison just as likely to commit crime – and create more victims – as when they arrived.
“That is why the prime minister announced an overhaul of how mental health is treated in prisons, giving governors a much greater say over what services their prisoners need and how the available budget is used.”“That is why the prime minister announced an overhaul of how mental health is treated in prisons, giving governors a much greater say over what services their prisoners need and how the available budget is used.”