HC Deb 03 November 1994 vol 248 cc1347-8W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist in relation to the handling of prisoners at risk of harming themselves.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what guidelines exist in relation to the handling of prisoners at risk of harming themselves. Instruction to Governors 1/1994 'Caring for the Suicidal in Custody' introduced new arrangements for the care of prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm, which updated and expanded arrangements set out in the previous instructions issued in May 1989. The new guidelines came into force on the 1 April 1994.

Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons currently implement official suicide prevention strategies.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on which prisons currently implement official suicide prevention strategies. The Prison Services' revised suicide prevention strategy was laid out in Instruction to Governors 1/1994, which updated and expanded arrangements set out in a previous instruction issued in May 1989. The new instruction was issued in February of this year and came into force on 1 April 1994 in all establishments.