This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/26/wandsworth-prisoner-death-verdict
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Wandsworth jail criticised over prisoner death | Wandsworth jail criticised over prisoner death |
| (1 day later) | |
| An inquest jury has criticised procedures and practice at the UK's biggest jail following the death of a prisoner, jailed for stealing a gingerbread man in the 2011 riots. | An inquest jury has criticised procedures and practice at the UK's biggest jail following the death of a prisoner, jailed for stealing a gingerbread man in the 2011 riots. |
| The man had been medically assessed by an inmate after staff failed to follow gym induction procedures. The man, who died of a heart attack following a workout in the jail's gym, had a medical condition that should have barred him from strenuous exercise. | The man had been medically assessed by an inmate after staff failed to follow gym induction procedures. The man, who died of a heart attack following a workout in the jail's gym, had a medical condition that should have barred him from strenuous exercise. |
| The jury also found that after the man fell ill, staff did not recognise the urgency of his needs, and said the timing of the call for an ambulance may have contributed to his death. | The jury also found that after the man fell ill, staff did not recognise the urgency of his needs, and said the timing of the call for an ambulance may have contributed to his death. |
| James Best, 37, died after collapsing at Wandsworth prison, south London, in August 2011. He had been convicted of theft at Croydon magistrates court and remanded in custody awaiting sentence. He had stolen a gingerbread man from an already looted bakery in Croydon. | James Best, 37, died after collapsing at Wandsworth prison, south London, in August 2011. He had been convicted of theft at Croydon magistrates court and remanded in custody awaiting sentence. He had stolen a gingerbread man from an already looted bakery in Croydon. |
| In July 2011, Best was convicted of criminal damage and sectioned under the Mental Health Act after self-harming on a London street. He also had physical problems including Crohn's disease, arthritis, high blood pressure and asthma. | In July 2011, Best was convicted of criminal damage and sectioned under the Mental Health Act after self-harming on a London street. He also had physical problems including Crohn's disease, arthritis, high blood pressure and asthma. |
| The inquest heard that medical assessments on the prisoner's fitness to attend the gym were carried out by inmates. Best had ticked three boxes relating to his medical condition, which should have precluded him from working out in the gym. The paperwork should have been signed off by prison officers, but were passed to prisoner orderlies to sign, in breach of prison rules. As a result, Best was passed fit for the gym. | The inquest heard that medical assessments on the prisoner's fitness to attend the gym were carried out by inmates. Best had ticked three boxes relating to his medical condition, which should have precluded him from working out in the gym. The paperwork should have been signed off by prison officers, but were passed to prisoner orderlies to sign, in breach of prison rules. As a result, Best was passed fit for the gym. |
| On the afternoon of 8 August, Best went to the gym and was described as "training really hard, really going for it". He collapsed after returning to his cell. An ambulance was called, but by 5.10pm he was pronounced dead. | On the afternoon of 8 August, Best went to the gym and was described as "training really hard, really going for it". He collapsed after returning to his cell. An ambulance was called, but by 5.10pm he was pronounced dead. |
| The jury at Westminster coroner's court heard of a long delay in an ambulance getting to the prison. The prison officer in the jail's control room was unable to tell the emergency services the man's name or condition and did not know the prison's postcode. The panel concluded: "The timing of the call for an ambulance potentially contributed to Best's death."They found he died from natural causes. | The jury at Westminster coroner's court heard of a long delay in an ambulance getting to the prison. The prison officer in the jail's control room was unable to tell the emergency services the man's name or condition and did not know the prison's postcode. The panel concluded: "The timing of the call for an ambulance potentially contributed to Best's death."They found he died from natural causes. |
| Solicitor Nancy Collins, of Irwin Mitchell LLP, represented Best's family. She says the death is symptomatic of a prison system in crisis: "The system simply contains prisoners and does not allow for the proper response to the complex needs of individual inmates." | Solicitor Nancy Collins, of Irwin Mitchell LLP, represented Best's family. She says the death is symptomatic of a prison system in crisis: "The system simply contains prisoners and does not allow for the proper response to the complex needs of individual inmates." |
| Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, says Best's death was a result of "catastrophic failings across the system" and asks why a man with mental health problems should have been jailed for such a trivial offence. "There also remain serious questions about why Wandsworth, a prison that has seen a disturbing number of deaths, failed to implement basic policies and procedures designed to protect the health and safety of its detainees," she said. | Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, says Best's death was a result of "catastrophic failings across the system" and asks why a man with mental health problems should have been jailed for such a trivial offence. "There also remain serious questions about why Wandsworth, a prison that has seen a disturbing number of deaths, failed to implement basic policies and procedures designed to protect the health and safety of its detainees," she said. |
| A Prison Service spokesman said: "We will consider the inquest findings to see what lessons can be learned in addition to those already learned as a ‑result of the investigation conducted by the prisons and probation ombudsman." | A Prison Service spokesman said: "We will consider the inquest findings to see what lessons can be learned in addition to those already learned as a ‑result of the investigation conducted by the prisons and probation ombudsman." |
| • This article was amended on 27 March 2013. The original subheading said incorrectly that Best had been made to work out in a gym despite a serious medical condition. He was passed fit, but was not made to exercise. |