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Rise in prison suicides blamed on staff shortages as inmate numbers grow Rise in prison suicides in England and Wales blamed on staff shortages
(about 3 hours later)
The rapid rise in the rate of suicides in jails is caused by shortages of experienced staff and resources coupled with the growing size of the prison population, according to the chief inspector of prisons. Shortages of experienced staff and resources combined with a growing prison population are to blame for the rapid rise in suicides, according to the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales.
Nick Hardwick’s annual report warns that there has been a “significant and concerning increase in deaths in custody reversing a downturn in the previous decade.” Nick Hardwick’s annual report warns that there has been a “significant and concerning increase in deaths in custody”, reversing improvements made over the past decade.
Self-inflicted deaths among inmates rose by 69% in 2013-14 – a total of 88 lives lost and the highest level for 10 years. Self-inflicted deaths among inmates rose by 69% in 2013-14 – a total of 88 lives lost and the highest level for 10 years. That increase was ”the most unacceptable” aspect of the mutiple pressures on the prison service, he said.
The Ministry of Justice, however, immediately denied that staffing cuts or “crowding levels” are responsible for the surge in suicides.
As many as 22 prisons are currently on restricted regimes where normal activities and resettlement programmes are suspended in order to focus on allowing prisoners out to have exercise.
Asked whether the service had been fortunate to avoid serious riots, Hardwick said: “Managers nationally and locally have been very effective at spinning a lot of plates. ... One of the reasons why things have not been as bad as we might expect has been down to the work on the ground.”
Another indicator of the problems, he explained, was the “worrying” growth of so-called “incidents at height” where prisoners climb up on to netting between wings to stage protests. There were about 700 in the year ending March 2013 but 1,300 the following year.
“It’s individuals refusing to comply. We don’t want it to go from individuals to groups. Overall staff have been effective in keeping a lid on that.” Improvements have been made, Hardwick acknowledged, but the reaction to some problems had been too slow.
The report criticised “gaps in the identification of risks for new prisoners at a time when they were most vulnerable.” Too many inmates “in crisis” were found to be “segregated and living in poor conditions”, the document added.The report criticised “gaps in the identification of risks for new prisoners at a time when they were most vulnerable.” Too many inmates “in crisis” were found to be “segregated and living in poor conditions”, the document added.
Hardwick said: “Increases in self-inflicted deaths, self-harm and violence cannot be attributed to a single cause. They reflect some deep-seated trends and affect prisons in both the public and private sector.Hardwick said: “Increases in self-inflicted deaths, self-harm and violence cannot be attributed to a single cause. They reflect some deep-seated trends and affect prisons in both the public and private sector.
“In my view, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the conjunction of resource, population and policy pressures … was a very significant factor for the rapid deterioration in safety.” “In my view, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the conjunction of resource, population and policy pressures … was a very significant factor for the rapid deterioration in safety.”
The total prison population rose from 84,083 in April 2013 to 85,252 in March 2014 – which was 99% of the system’s operational capacity. More cell places have become available since then. The total prison population rose from 84,083 in April 2013 to 85,252 in March 2014 – which was 99% of the system’s operational capacity. More cell places have become available since then but, Hardwick warned, there will be further finanical pressures.
Another sign of growing pressure inside jails was the 14% increase in assaults involving adult male prisoners. “Some prisons were insufficiently focused on tackling violence,” the report said. “We have to be careful about managing the pressures and resources we make available over the next year. It’s not my job to say how many people should be in prison but we need to match the population to the resources available.”
A further sign of difficulties inside jails was the 14% increase in assaults involving adult male prisoners. “Some prisons were insufficiently focused on tackling violence,” the report said.
Drugs were also a problem. “The increased availability in prisons of new psychoactive substances, often known as legal highs, was a source of debt and associated bullying and a threat to health,” the report said.Drugs were also a problem. “The increased availability in prisons of new psychoactive substances, often known as legal highs, was a source of debt and associated bullying and a threat to health,” the report said.
There was also a “significant loss of more experienced staff” due to old prisons closing and planned staff savings. There were savings of £84m in public sector prison running costs and a further £88m as a result of closing older prisons. Normal testing methods cannot detect legal highs that rapidly change their chemical formulation. Prices inside are said to be 10 times higher than on the street. If taken by those already on medication, Hardwick warned, they can be very dangerous.
There was also a “significant loss of more experienced staff” due to old prisons closing and planned staff savings. There were savings last year of £84m in public sector prison running costs and a further £88m as a result of closing older prisons. Where old prisons closed experienced staff were lost while new prisons opening in other areas could not immediately attract experienced officers.
Asked about complaints that prison staff who raised concerns with their MPs were being disciplined, Hardwick said he had always been able to talk to officers openly but added: “People need to be free to raise concerns.”
The report notes that the number of self-harm incidents in women’s prisons are still disproportionately high, although falling. There were three self-inflicted deaths in women’s prisons in 2013-14. “At HMP Bronzefield,” the report said, “we found one woman with acute needs who had been kept in segregation for over five years in conditions which, in our view, amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”
The chief inspector welcomed the sharp fall in the number of children held in young offender institutions: down from 1,708 in 2012-13 to 1,334 in the year to April 2014. That change in population, with only the more serious young offenders now being held, may affect the way the new ‘secure colleges’ are run, he added. Hardwick’s five-year term is up for renewal in July 2015.
Danny Kruger, the chief executive of the crime prevention charity Only Connect, said: “The UK’s prisons are close to boiling point. We’ve worked in prisons since 2006 and these are among the worst conditions we’ve seen. Our experience is that shortages of staff have left conditions on a knife edge, leading to the constant threat of violence and less rehabilitation. Classrooms and workshops are empty because there aren’t enough officers to escort the prisoners – and volunteers and staff from resettlement projects are increasingly barred from entering prison in the first place.
“It’s incredibly sad that it has taken record numbers of prisoner suicides to bring this to public attention, but the prison authorities must face up to the long-term implications of this strategy. By clamping down on positive activity and support we are simply storing up trouble for when today’s prisoners – often locked up for 23 hours a day and receiving no support to get their lives in order – hit the streets again.”
Commenting on the annual report, Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s justice spokesman, said: “This damning report by the independent chief inspector of prisons lays bare the deteriorating conditions in our jails under David Cameron’s government. It shows ministers are burying their heads in the sand rather than facing up to the growing levels of overcrowding, staff cuts, violence and suicide.
“The government should be alarmed at reports of prisoners idling away their time in their cells rather than being on courses or working. It does nothing to improve rehabilitation and puts the safety of communities at risk from unreformed prisoners drifting back into a life of crime and creating more needless victims.”
Responding to the report, the prisons minister, Andrew Selous, said: “The last year has seen the Prison Service manage major organisational change to create significant savings for the taxpayer – it has been challenging for staff and I thank them for their hard work and dedication.
“During this time we have always had enough staff to deliver decent and safe prison regimes, and this will continue to be our top priority.
“We remain committed to reducing violence and understanding the reasons for the recent rise in self-inflicted deaths. But this is a complex issue and the chief inspector has failed to provide any evidence to support his assertion that this is linked to the reforms made under this government.”
A Prison Service spokesperson added: “There is no evidence to link staffing levels, or crowding levels, to the number of self-inflicted deaths across the estate.‬ We always closely monitor any possible trends.”