HC Deb 10 March 1988 vol 129 cc326-7W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many(a) sentenced prisoners and (b) remand prisoners in Scotland committed suicide or attempted suicide whilst in custody in each year since 1975;

(2) how many (a) sentenced prisoners and (b) remand prisoners in Scotland inflicted a serious injury upon themselves whilst in custody in each year since 1975.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The available information is as follows:

Year Suicide Self-inflicted1 injury in custody
Sentenced Prisoners Untried Prisoners
1975 — 1 127
1976 2 2 151
1977 2 1 174
1978 2 2 187
1979 — 3 196
1980 1 — 167

Year Suicide Self-inflicted1 injury in custody
Sentenced Prisoners Untried Prisoners
1981 3 — 210
1982 2 1 204
1983 4 2 267
1984 1 4 224
1985 5 2 320
1986 4 3 320
1987 (part year) 22 21 3—
1 "self-inflicted injuries" include all cases of injury believed to have been self-inflicted while in custody. Separate figures are not available for cases of self-injury intended or suspected to be "attempted suicide".
2 Figures for "suicides" in 1987 are part-year and do not include deaths in custody for which a fatal accident inquiry determination is not yet available.
3 not yet available.