HC Deb 27 November 1987 vol 123 cc344-5W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers, location and status of self-inflicted deaths in Scottish penal institutions for each year from 1983 to the present; and how many of those were on suicide observation at the time of their death.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The numbers of self-inflicted deaths of inmates in Scottish penal establishments were six in 1983, five in 1984, six in 1985 and seven in 1986. Details of the establishment and status of the inmates in these instances were as follows:

Establishment Status of inmate
1983
Barlinnie Untried
Barlinnie Convicted
Edinburgh Convicted and sentenced
Glenochil Young Offenders Institution Convicted and sentenced
Longriggend Remand Unit Untried
Peterhead Convicted and sentenced
Establishment Status of inmate
1984
Barlinnie Untried
Barlinnie Untried
Barlinnie Untried
Edinburgh Untried
Glenochil Detention Centre Convicted and sentenced
1985
Barlinnie Untried
Barlinnie Convicted and sentenced
Barlinnie Convicted and sentenced
Glenochil Detention Centre Convicted and sentenced
Glenochil Young Offenders Convicted and sentenced
Institution
Perth Untried
Peterhead Convicted and sentenced
1986
Barlinnie Convicted and sentenced
Barlinnie Convicted and sentenced
Barlinnie Untried
Cornton Vale Untried
Edinburgh Untried
Perth Convicted and sentenced
Perth Convicted and sentenced

In these 24 cases, 12 individuals were subject to observation or other precautions at the time of death and 12 individuals were not.

In 1987 there have been 11 deaths in Scottish penal establishments. The death of any person in legal custody is the subject of a fatal accident inquiry. So far, fatal accident inquiries have been completed for only two of the deaths in 1987 and in each case the cause was acute myocardial ischaemia and not self-inflicted injury. Determinations of fatal accident inquiries are still awaited in the other nine cases.

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