HC Deb 20 July 1990 vol 176 c748W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the regulations pertaining in(a) adult prisons and (b) juvenile penal establishments concerning the observation of prisoners considered to be at risk of committing suicide.

Mr. Mellor

Once an inmate has been identified as potentially suicidal it is for the prison medical officer to decide what form of special supervision is needed, depending on the seriousness of the risk. Broadly speaking, continuous supervision is considered appropriate where the medical officer believes there is an immediate risk of the inmate harming him or herself. Where continuous supervision is impracticable, or where the medical officer considers the inmate to present some suicide risk but not so immediately as to require continuous supervision, the inmate should normally be placed under intermittent supervision. Where this is ordered, the inmate will normally be observed by a member of staff at approximately 15-minute intervals. Where, exceptionally, this is not possible, the governor or medical officer may order the frequency of observation to be reduced, but not below once every 30 minutes.

Detailed guidance on special supervision procedures, and on all other aspects of suicide prevention (for example, the location of suicidal inmates and sources of help and support), is set out in circular instruction 20/1989, a copy of which is in the Library. The guidance applies to all prison service establishments.

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