§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths of prisoners have occurred in Brixton prison since 12 January 1982; how many of these have been in medical wing B; what was the cause of death in each case; and how many of the inquests were undertaken by the Southwark coroner's office.
§ Mr. HurdEight prisoners have died in Brixton prison since the death of Mr. Worrell on 12 January 1982, five of whom were in B wing. All eight prisoners died as the result of hanging themselves. All these deaths were the subject of an inquest by the Southwark coroner.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries have been undertaken 4W into deaths at Brixton prison during the past five years; what periods these cover; and when the results are expected to be published.
§ Mr. HurdAll deaths in prison custody are the subject of extensive internal inquiry, both at the establishment and at prison department headquarters; and the law requires that they be the subject of a coroner's inquest with a jury. There have been no inquiries in addition to these into deaths at Brixton prison in the past five years. However, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has carried out a general study of suicide precautions in prison, which will be published in due course.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in procedure have been introduced in medical B wing at Brixton prison since the death of Paul Worrell on 12 January 1982.
§ Mr. HurdNo changes in procedures in B wing have been thought necessary specifically as a result of the death of Mr. Worrell, but the procedures for identifying suicide risks and preventing suicide at Brixton are kept under review by medical staff there. Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has also carried out a study of suicide precautions in the prison service as a whole.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the facilities in the medical B wing of Brixton prison for the resuscitation of prisoners attempting suicide.
§ Mr. HurdStaff are trained in the techniques of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In addition, oxygen equipment is available in B wing and hospital staff trained in its use are on duty at all times.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prison officers conducting a special watch on prisoners at Brixton prison regarded as potential suicide risks regularly carry keys to the cells.
§ Mr. HurdPrisoners at Brixton who are being kept under a special watch as suicide risks are accommodated in B wing and the hospital. Staff have access to cells, hospital rooms and wards during the day but because of the security and control risks staff on observation duties do not carry keys at night time. However, should the need arise they have immediate access to a key held by a member of staff who is on duty on the ground floor of the Wing or hospital at all times.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the prisoners who have died in Brixton prison since 12 January 1982 were subject to special watch arrangements as potential suicide risks; and what steps have been taken to monitor the effectiveness of this system.
§ Mr. HurdFour prisoners who died at Brixton prison during this period were subject to special watch arrangements at the time of their death. The effectiveness of the special watch procedure, along with other suicide precautions, is reviewed in the context of the inquiries made into every suicide in prison. The procedure will be reviewed more generally in the context of the report by Her Majesty's chief inspector on suicides in prisons.