HL Deb 11 December 1989 vol 513 cc1204-5WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many young offenders have committed suicide at each local and remand prison in each of the past five years.

Viscount Ullswater

The table show the number of deaths of young offenders at local prisons and remand centres in England and Wales since 1984 for which suicide verdicts were returned at the inquest. All the deaths were of unconvicted young offenders except that at Lewes Prison this year.

Establishment 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989(1) (to 1/12)
Ashford 1 1
Brixton 1
Canterbury 1
Durham 1
Exeter 1
Leeds 1 4 1
Lewes 1
Lincoln 1
Manchester 1
Pentonville 1
Risley 1 1 1 1
Shrewsbury 1
Swansea 1
Total 2 3 3 5 6 3
(1) Inquests have yet to be held on four other young offenders who have died in 1989 and whose deaths are thought to have been suicides. These deaths occurred at HMRC Risley and HM Prisons Rochester, Hindley and Swansea. All were of unconvicted young offenders.

No suicide verdicts have been returned in respect of any young offenders at other local prisons and remand centres since 1984.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many suicides have taken place at each young offenders' institution each year for the past five years.

Viscount Ullswater

Since 1984 there have been four inmates who died at young offender establishments on whom verdicts of suicide were returned at the inquest. Two of these deaths occurred at HM Youth Custody Centre Stoke Heath in 1987, one at HM Youth Custody Centre Rochester in 1988 and one at HM Youth Custody Centre Glen Parva in 1988. Stoke Heath and Glen Parva are now designated as young offender institutions. Rochester no longer hold sentenced young offenders.