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Self-inflicted deaths among offenders on probation rise by a fifth Self-inflicted deaths among offenders on probation rise by a fifth
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The number of suicides among offenders who were being managed in the community has risen by a fifth in the last year against a backdrop of criticism of the probation service. The number of suicides among offenders who were being managed in the community has risen by a fifth in the past year against a backdrop of criticism of the probation service.
Self-inflicted deaths increased by 19%, from 283 in 2017-18 to 337 in 2018-19, and made up 31% of all deaths of offenders in the community, statistics released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show. Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show the number of self-inflicted deaths increased by 19% from 283 in 2017-18 to 337 in 2018-19, and made up 31% of all deaths of offenders in the community.
In 2018-19 there were 1,093 deaths of offenders in the community, up 13% from 964 in the previous year. Deaths from natural causes increased by 7%, from 308 in 2017-18 to 331 in 2018-19, and made up 30% of all deaths. In 2018-19, there were 1,093 deaths of offenders in the community, up 13% from 964 in the previous year. The number of deaths from natural causes rose by 7% from 308 in 2017-18 to 331 in 2018-19, and made up 30% of all deaths.
The probation sector in England and Wales was overhauled in 2014 by the then justice secretary, Chris Grayling. Ignoring significant warnings from within the MoJ, he broke up probation trusts and replaced them with a public sector service to deal with high-risk offenders and community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) that manage low- to medium-risk offenders.The probation sector in England and Wales was overhauled in 2014 by the then justice secretary, Chris Grayling. Ignoring significant warnings from within the MoJ, he broke up probation trusts and replaced them with a public sector service to deal with high-risk offenders and community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) that manage low- to medium-risk offenders.
In May this year another justice secretary, David Gauke, announced that the supervision of all offenders in the community would be renationalised. In May, the then justice secretary, David Gauke, announced the supervision of all offenders in the community would be renationalised.
Deborah Coles, executive director of Inquest , a charity that provides expertise on state-related deaths, said: “These figures are deeply disturbing and require urgent scrutiny due to the current lack of independent investigation. What is known is that people are being released into failing support systems, poverty and an absence of services for mental health and additions. This is state abandonment. This is the violence of austerity.” Deborah Coles, the executive director of Inquest, a charity that provides expertise on state-related deaths, said: “These figures are deeply disturbing and require urgent scrutiny due to the current lack of independent investigation. What is known is that people are being released into failing support systems, poverty and an absence of services for mental health and addictions. This is state abandonment. This is the violence of austerity.”
In a separate dataset, the Ministry of Justice revealed that the number of self-harm incidents in prison was at a record high. There were 60,594 incidents in the 12 months to June 2019, up 22% from the same period in the previous year. In the last quarter, the number of incidents increased by 13% to a record high of 16,342. In a separate dataset, the MoJ revealed the number of self-harm incidents in prisons was at a record high. There were 60,594 in the 12 months to June 2019, up 22% from the same period in the previous year. In the past quarter, the number of incidents increased by 13% to a record high of 16,342.
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There were 34,112 incidents of assault in the year ending in June, up 5% on the previous year. But there was a slight drop in the latest quarter, to 8,360 incidents, down 1%. There were 34,112 incidents of assault in the year ending in June, up 5% on the previous year. But there was a slight drop of 1% in the latest quarter to 8,360 incidents.
Attacks on staff by jumped 10% from the previous 12 months, with 10,424 assaults recorded. The number of deaths in custody fell by 5% in the 12 months to September, from 325 to 308. Of these, 90 were thought to be self-inflicted. Attacks on staff rose by 10% from the previous 12 months, with 10,424 assaults recorded. The number of deaths in custody fell by 5% in the 12 months to September, from 325 to 308. Of these, 90 were thought to be self-inflicted.
The figures come at a time when the government is planning to keep some offenders in prison for longer – increasing the automatic release point for some violent and sexual offences from halfway to two thirds. The government is planning to keep some offenders in prison for longer, increasing the automatic release point for some violent and sexual offences from halfway to two-thirds through their sentences.
Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “How can any government contemplate sending more people to prison on ever longer sentences when it is failing so completely to meet its duty of care to the individuals involved? Peter Dawson, the director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “How can any government contemplate sending more people to prison on ever longer sentences when it is failing so completely to meet its duty of care to the individuals involved?
“These terrible figures show that the prison system is not in recovery. Politically motivated announcements over the summer can only make the situation even worse, and the justice committee’s scathing report today correctly shows that the government has no plan to deal with the consequences. In prison, those consequences can be a matter of life and death.”“These terrible figures show that the prison system is not in recovery. Politically motivated announcements over the summer can only make the situation even worse, and the justice committee’s scathing report today correctly shows that the government has no plan to deal with the consequences. In prison, those consequences can be a matter of life and death.”
Boris Johnson made a number of announcements on prison investment shortly after taking office as prime minister but these were criticised on Thursday by MPs on the justice committee as “policy by press notice” with no clear vision for the future of the prison system. Boris Johnson made a number of announcements on prisons investment shortly after taking office as prime minister, but these were criticised on Thursday by MPs on the justice committee as “policy by press notice” with no clear vision for the future of the prison system.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We know that levels of violence and self-harm in prisons are unacceptably high, but we remain determined to make progress so that our jails reform offenders, reduce reoffending and keep the public safe. An MoJ spokesperson said: “We know that levels of violence and self-harm in prisons are unacceptably high, but we remain determined to make progress so that our jails reform offenders, reduce reoffending and keep the public safe.
“Our £2.75bn investment will modernise jails and step up security to stop the flow of drugs and weapons which fuel these issues. We have also trained over 25,000 staff in suicide and self-harm prevention and introduced the key worker scheme to give each prisoner a dedicated prison officer for support.”“Our £2.75bn investment will modernise jails and step up security to stop the flow of drugs and weapons which fuel these issues. We have also trained over 25,000 staff in suicide and self-harm prevention and introduced the key worker scheme to give each prisoner a dedicated prison officer for support.”
• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
Prisons and probationPrisons and probation
Suicide ratesSuicide rates
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