§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the Metropolitan Police estimates of(a) the policing costs, (b) the number of marchers and (c) the number of arrests relating to the public marches in London of the National Union of Students on 26 November 1997, the Animal Rights Movement on 19 July 1997, the Gay Pride March on 5 July 1997 and the Anti Poll Tax March on 31 March 1990; and what were the estimated policing costs per estimated marcher for each of the above. [32244]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided in tabular form the information requested. These are approximate basic policing costs at 1997 prices, and do not include any overtime which may have been incurred.
While the information is given in the form requested, direct comparisons can be misleading.
The costs in each case are based mainly on the organiser's estimate of numbers, on details such as routes and other arrangements during the event and on police intelligence as to the level of risk to the public from the actions of participants or others during the event.
The Prison Service has a well developed and well respected strategy for caring for prisoners who are at risk of suicide or self-injury. This applies equally to contractually managed prisons as well as directly managed prisons. The suicide awareness strategy involves the identification and support of those prisoners who are considered to be at risk. Every prison has a multi-disciplinary suicide awareness team which meets regularly and oversees the implementation of the strategy in their establishment. The suicide awareness strategy in 475W all establishments is audited by the Prison Service standards audit team and the Inspectorate of Prisons consider the strategy in their inspections of establishments.
Staff in establishments work closely with the Samaritans, who befriend prisoners in distress through visits to prisons and by telephone. The Samaritans are also actively involved in setting up listener/befriender schemes in prisons where selected prisoners are trained to provide peer group support for fellow prisoners in distress. Listener schemes provide a valuable contribution in reducing the likelihood of suicide and self-injury. The Samaritans' involvement in contractually managed prisons varies from full involvement in the listener scheme to visiting prisoners in distress.
The Suicide Awareness Support Unit (SASU), in Prison Service headquarters, examines each death in prison custody to see whether lessons can be learned. They also provide advice and support to establishments, particularly those which are experiencing a cluster of deaths.
I recently convened a meeting with a range of representatives from interest groups concerned about suicides in prisons. The meeting provided a useful forum for the exchange of ideas on how to develop further strategies for reducing suicides in prisons, and this work will be taken forward.
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons has been asked to carry out a thematic review of suicides in prison custody. This will cover all prisons.
§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to publish investigations into self-inflicted deaths in private prisons; [32103]
(2) if he will announce in each case the name of the person responsible for carrying out the investigations into self-inflicted deaths in private prisons. [32105]
§ Ms QuinThe Prison Service is currently reviewing its internal investigation procedures, including those concerning deaths in prison custody, with a view to their improvement and standardisation. Policy on disclosure of investigation reports, and the level at which investigations will be carried out, including naming of investigators, is being examined as part of this review. Any policy or procedural changes which are implemented will apply to public and contracted out establishments, but will not be applied retrospectively.