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Prison killings at 15-year high, charity says Prison suicides at six-year high, Howard League says
(about 7 hours later)
The number of murders or suspected murders in prisons in England and Wales in 2013 was the highest for 15 years, the Howard League has said. The number of suicides at prisons in England in Wales in 2013 was the highest for six years, the Howard League for Penal Reform has said.
Last year inmates at HMP Hewell and HMP Long Lartin, both in Worcestershire, were murdered. In total, 199 deaths were reported, 70 of which were self-inflicted.
Two murder cases, one after an inmate death at HMP Lincoln and another at South Yorkshire's Lindholme Prison, are still going through the courts. Howard League chief executive Frances Crook said almost all deaths in custody were "preventable".
The Prison Service said it was committed to ensuring prisons are safe. The Prison Service said it was committed to safety and each death was investigated by police and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
The statistics are based on notifications from the Ministry of Justice, the Howard League for Penal Reform (HLPR) said. The Howard League statistics are based on notifications from the Ministry of Justice.
In total, 199 deaths were reported during 2013, of which 70 were self-inflicted - the highest rate in six years. Ms Crook said: "Each death in custody is a tragedy and almost all of them are preventable.
Chief executive of the HLPR Frances Crook said: "Each death in custody is a tragedy and almost all of them are preventable.
"The responsibility for an increase in the number of people who take their own lives in prison lies squarely with those who advocate putting behind bars more and more people who do not need to be there.""The responsibility for an increase in the number of people who take their own lives in prison lies squarely with those who advocate putting behind bars more and more people who do not need to be there."
More than 100 prisoners died of natural causes, and a further 22 deaths are yet to be classified by prison authorities, the charity said.
'Strenuous efforts''Strenuous efforts'
The Howard League said there were four murders or suspected murders in prisons in 2012, the highest for 15 years.
Last year inmates at HMP Hewell and HMP Long Lartin, both in Worcestershire, were murdered.
Two murder cases, one at HMP Lincoln and another at South Yorkshire's Lindholme Prison, are still going through the courts.
More than 100 prisoners died of natural causes, and a further 22 deaths are yet to be classified by prison authorities, the charity said.
Ms Crook added: "This is the consequence of a policy that squanders a scarce resource, meaning that these institutions cannot keep people safe."Ms Crook added: "This is the consequence of a policy that squanders a scarce resource, meaning that these institutions cannot keep people safe."
The Prison Service said it was "applying strenuous efforts to learn from each [death]".The Prison Service said it was "applying strenuous efforts to learn from each [death]".
Five suicides were recorded at Wormwood Scrubs in London, while there were four at Woodhill, near Milton Keynes.Five suicides were recorded at Wormwood Scrubs in London, while there were four at Woodhill, near Milton Keynes.
A further six prisons each recorded three self-inflicted deaths during the year.A further six prisons each recorded three self-inflicted deaths during the year.
They were Hewell; Birmingham; Dovegate, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire; Norwich; and Chelmsford. They were Hewell, Birmingham, Dovegate, Norwich and Chelmsford.
Every death in custody is subject to an investigation by the police and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. There were 50 prisons where no death was recorded and 19 where all the deaths were by natural causes.
There were 50 prisons where no death was recorded, and 19 where all the deaths were by natural causes.