Prisoners (Suicides and Injuries) (Hansard, 18 June 1985)

§ Mr. Peter Bruinvels
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates have attempted suicide in prison in the current year to date and in each of the past five years.

§ Mr. Mellor
The information readily available is as follows:

Year Number of inmates who have committed suicide Number of inmates who have attempted suicide

1980 26 Not available

1981 21 Not available

1982 22 Not available

1983 26 212

1984 26 390†

1985^* 16

^* To 17 June 1985.

† 1984 and first three months of 1985. The reporting period for collection of these statistics has recently been altered from the calendar to the financial year. In the transition, figures are readily available only for the 15 months 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985.

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§ Mr. Peter Bruinvels
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees attempted or committed suicide whilst in custody within the Metropolitan police area in each of the past five years and to date.

§ Mr. Giles Shaw
Information on the number of suicides whilst in police custody in the Metropolitan police area during the period in question is contained in the appropriate annual reports of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. No such suicides have been reported this year to date. Information on the number of attempted suicides is not available.

§ Mr. Peter Bruinvels
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self inflicted injuries had been recorded as being inflicted during imprisonment or detention at Her Majesty's prisons or detention centres; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Mellor
The information readily available relates to 1983 onwards and is as follows:

Self-inflicted injuries^* at Prison Department Establishments

Year Prisons† Detention centres Total

1983 990 22 1,012

1984 and first 3 months of 1985‡ 1,357 25 1,392

^* Self-inflicted injuries are defined as those injuries requiring medical treatment and include those with apparent suicidal intent.

† Prisons: includes youth custody centres and remand centres.

‡ The reporting period for collection of these stastistics has recently been altered from the calendar to the financial year. In the transition, figures are readily available only for the 15 months 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985.

Year	Number of inmates who have committed suicide	Number of inmates who have attempted suicide
1980	26	Not available
1981	21	Not available
1982	22	Not available
1983	26	212
1984	26	390†
1985^*	16
^* To 17 June 1985.
† 1984 and first three months of 1985. The reporting period for collection of these statistics has recently been altered from the calendar to the financial year. In the transition, figures are readily available only for the 15 months 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985.

Self-inflicted injuries^* at Prison Department Establishments
Year	Prisons†	Detention centres	Total
1983	990	22	1,012
1984 and first 3 months of 1985‡	1,357	25	1,392
^* Self-inflicted injuries are defined as those injuries requiring medical treatment and include those with apparent suicidal intent.
† Prisons: includes youth custody centres and remand centres.
‡ The reporting period for collection of these stastistics has recently been altered from the calendar to the financial year. In the transition, figures are readily available only for the 15 months 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985.