HC Deb 24 July 1989 vol 157 c502W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers of incidents classified as suicide attempts and self mutilations at Armley and Hull prisons in 1988 and 1989.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Five incidents of self-injury were reported by the medical officer at Leeds during the year ending 31 March 1988, and 39 in the subsequent year. The corresponding figures at Hull were 53 and 93.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for deciding to classify an incident as a self mutilation or an attempted suicide at Armley prison; and what criteria are used.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

At all prison service establishments medical officers are responsible for distinguishing acts of non-fatal self-injury which are considered to have been committed with suicidal intent from those which appear not to have been so motivated. The categorisation of individual cases is a matter for clinical judgment on the part of the doctor.