§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people have been known to 246W have committed suicide whilst on remand at the Risley Remand Centre since the centre was opened; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe Risley Re mand Centre was opened in April, 1965. Since then 7 male inmates have committed suicide there, of which 3 were under the age of 21 years. Some 29,000 persons have been received at the centre since it was opened.
§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the circumstances which led up to the death of 17-year-old John Leckie Urbanowski, at the Risley Remand Centre; what steps he has taken to ensure that proper treatment and observation is given to young people whilst on remand at the centre; if he is satisfied that every possible measure is now taken to ensure that there will not be a similar occurrence; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Elystan MoganI have investigated this sad case. Whenever prison medical officers suspect the possibility of suicide special precautions are taken. These were fully explained in my speech in the Adjournment debate on 4th July in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton. I am satisfied that these preparations are the best that can be devised. They are kept under constant review in the light of experience and modern knowledge and they were fully observed in this case. I greatly regret that the close observation of this young man while in the prison hospital, the special watch kept on his discharge from the hospital, and attempts at resuscitation failed to prevent his tragic death. I am writing to my hon. Friend in greater detail.