§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have died in custody so far in 1978; what was the age and offence of each; when they died; and what was the cause of death.
§ Dr. Summerskill:The deaths of 47 male and four female prisoners have been reported by prison department establishments this year to date. Four 381W died in January, four in February, five in March, seven in April, four in May, five in June, 10 in July, five in August, four in September, one in October, and
Age Offence Cause of death 1. 28 Burglary Natural causes: acute cardiac failure 2. 23 Murder Suicide: strangulation due to self-suspension 3. 37 Wounding Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 4. 21 Burglary, theft Natural causes: rare blood disease 5. 38 Drug offences Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 6. 36 Burglary, robbery Natural causes: acute bronchopneumonia 7. 31 Grievous bodily harm Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 8. 71 Theft Natural causes: acute bronchopneumonia 9. 65 Arson Natural causes: chronic bronchitis and emphysema 10. 61 Indecent assault Natural causes: coronary thrombosis 11. 54 Fraud Natural causes: renal, cerebral and myocardial infarction 12. 25 Murder Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 13. 56 Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis 14. 39 Burglary, criminal damage Natural causes: coronary artery atheroma 15. 25 Robbery Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 16. 58 Fraud Natural causes: septicaemia, hepatitis 17. 18 Theft Natural causes: acute congestive cardiac failure 18. 41 Burglary Natural causes: respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism 19. 27 Assault Natural causes:myocardial degeneration infective hydated cysts 20. 23 Drug offences Accidental death: asphyxia 21. 28 Fraud Natural causes: status elepticus 22. 33 Murder Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 23. 28 Grievous bodily harm Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 24. 66 Threatening behaviour Open verdict: brain damage 25. 72 Threatening behaviour Natural causes: heart failure 26. 43 Wounding Natural causes: haemopericardium ruptured infarct 27. 33 Manslaughter Suicide: haemorrhage (throat wounds) 28. 27 Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis 29. 61 Theft Natural causes: coronary thrombosis 30. 40 Wounding Natural causes: death after operation for cancer 31. 51 Wandering abroad Natural causes: coronary occlusion 32. 17 Indecent assault Killed by fellow inmates 33. 39 Theft Natural causes: pulmonary oedema, leukaemia 34. 48 Murder Natural causes: coronary occlusion 35. 66 Buggery Misadventure: bronchopneumonia 36. 62 Indecent assault Natural causes: coronary thrombosis 37. 42 Theft Natural causes: aortic and mitral insufficiency 38. 56 Theft Natural causes: bronchopneumonia 39. 28 Theft Suicide: asphyxia by hanging 40. 34 Criminal damage Suicide: asphyxia by hanging