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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/19/rise-in-prison-suicides-prompts-calls-to-tackle-overcrowding
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| Rise in prison suicides prompts calls to tackle overcrowding | Rise in prison suicides prompts calls to tackle overcrowding |
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| The number of suicides among prisoners this year has already exceeded 2017’s death toll, prompting penal reform campaigners to renew calls for urgent action to tackle overcrowding. | The number of suicides among prisoners this year has already exceeded 2017’s death toll, prompting penal reform campaigners to renew calls for urgent action to tackle overcrowding. |
| The latest suicide, that of a man in his 40s who was waiting to be sentenced, happened at Winchester prison, bringing the number of self-inflicted deaths in England and Wales so far this year to 71. | The latest suicide, that of a man in his 40s who was waiting to be sentenced, happened at Winchester prison, bringing the number of self-inflicted deaths in England and Wales so far this year to 71. |
| Frances Crook, the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said she feared for the weeks ahead as Christmas approached. “There are simply too many people in the system,” she said. | Frances Crook, the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said she feared for the weeks ahead as Christmas approached. “There are simply too many people in the system,” she said. |
| Crook, who receives regular updates on the number of self-inflicted prison deaths, tweeted on Monday to highlight the figure of 71 men and women who had killed themselves. | Crook, who receives regular updates on the number of self-inflicted prison deaths, tweeted on Monday to highlight the figure of 71 men and women who had killed themselves. |
| Twenty-two of these were in their 30s and nine in their 20s, while three were aged under 24. A total of 24 were being monitored at the time of their death because they were recognised to be at risk of suicide. | Twenty-two of these were in their 30s and nine in their 20s, while three were aged under 24. A total of 24 were being monitored at the time of their death because they were recognised to be at risk of suicide. |
| “Lives are being saved every week by the good work of staff in every establishment but prisons are now really struggling, whether they are in special measures or coping with conditions like rat infestations and overcrowding,” said Crook. | “Lives are being saved every week by the good work of staff in every establishment but prisons are now really struggling, whether they are in special measures or coping with conditions like rat infestations and overcrowding,” said Crook. |
| “People shouldn’t be dying in prisons like this. In cases where the state has taken all responsibility away from you then they should at least be safe places.” | “People shouldn’t be dying in prisons like this. In cases where the state has taken all responsibility away from you then they should at least be safe places.” |
| Crook welcomed the fact that the number of deaths had gone down last year but warned that there was still a “toxic environment’” in prisons, the majority of which were full or overcrowded. | Crook welcomed the fact that the number of deaths had gone down last year but warned that there was still a “toxic environment’” in prisons, the majority of which were full or overcrowded. |
| It emerged last month that MPs were told by the NHS watchdog that almost half of England’s jails were providing inadequate medical care to inmates, damaging their health. | It emerged last month that MPs were told by the NHS watchdog that almost half of England’s jails were providing inadequate medical care to inmates, damaging their health. |
| Healthcare behind bars is so poor in some prisons that offenders are dying because staff do not respond properly to medical emergencies, the Care Quality Commission said. | Healthcare behind bars is so poor in some prisons that offenders are dying because staff do not respond properly to medical emergencies, the Care Quality Commission said. |
| Mental health services for the 40% of inmates who have psychological or psychiatric problems are particularly weak. This contributes to self-harming and suicides among prisoners, according to the CQC’s confidential briefing to the Commons health and social care select committee. | Mental health services for the 40% of inmates who have psychological or psychiatric problems are particularly weak. This contributes to self-harming and suicides among prisoners, according to the CQC’s confidential briefing to the Commons health and social care select committee. |
| The government has said it is investing tens of millions of pounds in prison safety and decency. This includes an extra £40m aimed at improving safety and funding measures such as x-ray scanners and drug-detection dogs. More than 3,500 new prison officers have also been recruited in the last two years. | |
| Prisons and probation | Prisons and probation |
| UK criminal justice | UK criminal justice |
| Suicide rates | Suicide rates |
| Wales | Wales |
| news | news |
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