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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ombudsman quits prisoner inquiry | Ombudsman quits prisoner inquiry |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has quit an inquiry into the treatment of a teenage prisoner, blaming the Prison Service for unacceptable restrictions. | The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has quit an inquiry into the treatment of a teenage prisoner, blaming the Prison Service for unacceptable restrictions. |
| Stephen Shaw was the chairman of a public inquiry into the treatment of a 17-year-old girl, known as SP. | Stephen Shaw was the chairman of a public inquiry into the treatment of a 17-year-old girl, known as SP. |
| Mr Shaw said the Prison Service was trying to "dictate" how the investigation should be conducted. | Mr Shaw said the Prison Service was trying to "dictate" how the investigation should be conducted. |
| SP had severe mental health problems and a history of neglect and abuse, and was held in isolation for months. | SP had severe mental health problems and a history of neglect and abuse, and was held in isolation for months. |
| Mr Shaw, the prisons ombudsman for England and Wales, is independent of both the Prison Service and the National Probation Service. | Mr Shaw, the prisons ombudsman for England and Wales, is independent of both the Prison Service and the National Probation Service. |
| He was investigating the circumstances of SP's self-harm. | He was investigating the circumstances of SP's self-harm. |
| We regret the inevitable further delay this causes for SP and her family and any distress that this may cause Maria EaglePrisons Minister | We regret the inevitable further delay this causes for SP and her family and any distress that this may cause Maria EaglePrisons Minister |
| In his resignation letter to the Prison Service, Mr Shaw wrote: "I have been saddened by what I regard as the Prison Service's inconsistent approach to this inquiry, by the attempt to dictate how I should conduct the investigation, and by the lack of focus on the core issue: life-threatening self-harm amongst so many young women prisoners." | |
| In particular, he said two letters concerning the case "constitute an unwarranted and unacceptable attempt to fetter my independence and to restrict the way I carry out the inquiry." | In particular, he said two letters concerning the case "constitute an unwarranted and unacceptable attempt to fetter my independence and to restrict the way I carry out the inquiry." |
| According to the Howard League for Penal Reform, SP was placed on suicide watch due to persistent self-harm and held in solitary confinement for several months. | According to the Howard League for Penal Reform, SP was placed on suicide watch due to persistent self-harm and held in solitary confinement for several months. |
| The Howard League said that while on solitary confinement SP was often locked in her cell for 22 hours a day, eating meals on her own and taking her only exercise in a metal cage. | The Howard League said that while on solitary confinement SP was often locked in her cell for 22 hours a day, eating meals on her own and taking her only exercise in a metal cage. |
| SP's self-harm was so serious whilst in prison that she had to be taken to hospital for blood transfusions. | SP's self-harm was so serious whilst in prison that she had to be taken to hospital for blood transfusions. |
| The ombudsman is appointed by the Home Secretary and investigates complaints from prisoners and those subject to probation supervision, or those upon whom reports have been written. | The ombudsman is appointed by the Home Secretary and investigates complaints from prisoners and those subject to probation supervision, or those upon whom reports have been written. |
| Inquiry delays | Inquiry delays |
| Prisons Minister Maria Eagle said she regretted Mr Shaw's resignation, which was received on 19 June. | Prisons Minister Maria Eagle said she regretted Mr Shaw's resignation, which was received on 19 June. |
| "We also regret the inevitable further delay this causes for SP and her family and any distress that this may cause." | "We also regret the inevitable further delay this causes for SP and her family and any distress that this may cause." |
| She added: "Before responding we will consider carefully the points he has made and the next steps in light of his decision not to continue with the investigation." | She added: "Before responding we will consider carefully the points he has made and the next steps in light of his decision not to continue with the investigation." |
| Describing the inquiry as a "new type of investigation", she said "we will be considering urgently how to restart the process in the most effective and appropriate way in the interests of all concerned." | Describing the inquiry as a "new type of investigation", she said "we will be considering urgently how to restart the process in the most effective and appropriate way in the interests of all concerned." |
| Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the inquiry now needed to be "placed on a statutory footing if it is to shed light on unmet mental health need and shocking levels of self harm amongst vulnerable women in prison". | |
| She added: "It's now clear that the ombudsman's role itself should be put on a statutory basis to provide it with full investigative powers." |