Suicides (Hansard, 3 March 1986)

HC Deb 03 March 1986 vol 93 c44W 44W

§ Mr. Tom Cox
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of suicides in prisons in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years.

§ Mr. Mellor
The number of prisoners adjudged by inquests as having committed suicide in prison custody is as follows:

Number

1981 16

1982 18

1983 *21

1984 *23

1985 †21

* Including in each year one prisoner who died in an outside hospital as a result of a suicide attempt before his reception into prison custody.

† Inquest verdicts on 16 prisoners who died in custody during 1985 are still awaited; some of these are likely to be verdicts of suicide.

	Number
1981	16
1982	18
1983	*21
1984	*23
1985	†21
* Including in each year one prisoner who died in an outside hospital as a result of a suicide attempt before his reception into prison custody.
† Inquest verdicts on 16 prisoners who died in custody during 1985 are still awaited; some of these are likely to be verdicts of suicide.