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Decision due on inquiry into young prison deaths Government to review young suicides in custody
(about 1 hour later)
Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright is due to announce whether he has agreed to hold an independent inquiry into the deaths of young people in custody. The government is setting up an independent review to investigate the number of young people committing suicide in prison.
Mr Wright refused requests for an independent review last year but later agreed to look at the issue again. Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright will set out details of the review later.
In the past 10 years, 163 children and young people under the age of 24 have died in prison.In the past 10 years, 163 children and young people under the age of 24 have died in prison.
Campaigners said an independent inquiry could address systemic failings in a way that individual inquests could not. Campaigners have argued an independent inquiry could address systemic failings in a way that individual inquests could not.
'Failed to act' 'Relentless'
Analysis from the charity Inquest found that since 2011, two of the three children and nearly a third of those aged between 18 and 24 were being monitored for suicide and self-harm when they died. The charity Inquest said that of the three children who had died in prison since 2011, two had been under monitoring for suicide and self-harm at the time of their death.
Other common features included many diagnosed with ADHD, those with special educational needs, and personality and other disorders. In the same period, 41 young people aged 18-24 died in prison from self-inflicted causes.
Inquest said 14 of these people, accounting for more than a third of the total, had been getting monitored for suicide and self-harm when they died.
Other common features among children and young people who have died in prison from self-inflicted causes are diagnoses of ADHD, special educational needs, and personality and other disorders.
Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, said: "The state has frequently been put on notice about the scandal of deaths of children and young people in custody and yet has failed to act.Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, said: "The state has frequently been put on notice about the scandal of deaths of children and young people in custody and yet has failed to act.
"The relentless nature of these deaths is shocking enough but the recurrence of depressingly familiar failings year after year should give most cause for alarm."The relentless nature of these deaths is shocking enough but the recurrence of depressingly familiar failings year after year should give most cause for alarm.
"Investigations and inquests are held in isolation, limited in remit and cannot address the wider systemic failures in state care both within and outside prisons.""Investigations and inquests are held in isolation, limited in remit and cannot address the wider systemic failures in state care both within and outside prisons."
BBC legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman said it painted a bleak picture of the failure to prevent deaths of children and young people in custody.BBC legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman said it painted a bleak picture of the failure to prevent deaths of children and young people in custody.
Secure collegeSecure college
The BBC has learned that the minister's original decision is under judicial review from the mother of a 19-year-old man found hanged in a young offenders institution.The BBC has learned that the minister's original decision is under judicial review from the mother of a 19-year-old man found hanged in a young offenders institution.
Another mother, Lisa Courtney, whose son Ben was 18 when he hanged himself at Portland Young Offenders Institution, said more light should be thrown on failures by institutions.Another mother, Lisa Courtney, whose son Ben was 18 when he hanged himself at Portland Young Offenders Institution, said more light should be thrown on failures by institutions.
Her son suffered from learning difficulties and ADHD, but she says his medical notes were never sent to Portland.Her son suffered from learning difficulties and ADHD, but she says his medical notes were never sent to Portland.
"Prisons are about punishment but they are not only about punishment," she said. "They are about correction."Prisons are about punishment but they are not only about punishment," she said. "They are about correction.
"Ben was neglected, Ben was just left in a cell to die, left in a cell to hang himself."Ben was neglected, Ben was just left in a cell to die, left in a cell to hang himself.
"Something is going wrong in there.""Something is going wrong in there."
At the heart of the debate lies the obligation of the state under Article 2 of the Human Rights Act to protect life.At the heart of the debate lies the obligation of the state under Article 2 of the Human Rights Act to protect life.
Campaigners argue that the numbers of children and young people dying in custody means that the state is failing in this obligation.Campaigners argue that the numbers of children and young people dying in custody means that the state is failing in this obligation.
The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to spend £85m building a secure college in Leicestershire that will hold up to 320 young people in custody.The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to spend £85m building a secure college in Leicestershire that will hold up to 320 young people in custody.
This is planned to be the first step towards several other "fortified schools" that will eventually cater for the vast majority.This is planned to be the first step towards several other "fortified schools" that will eventually cater for the vast majority.
It may be, says our correspondent, that the government will argue this measure, together with existing structures and safeguards, fulfils its obligations to protect the lives of young people in custody.It may be, says our correspondent, that the government will argue this measure, together with existing structures and safeguards, fulfils its obligations to protect the lives of young people in custody.