§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there were in Leicestershire prisons in 1997. [28576]
§ Ms QuinThe number of self-inflicted deaths in Leicestershire prisons from 1990 to date is given in the following table:
Glen Year Ashwell Gartree Parva Leicester Stocken 1990 0 0 1 0 0 1991 0 0 1 0 0 1992 2 1 1 1 0 1993 0 0 0 3 0 1994 0 1 0 3 0 1995 0 0 0 1 0 1996 0 1 2 1 1 1997 0 1 1 0 0 1998 (to date) 0 0 0 0 0 Note:
Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.
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§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of suicides in British prisons. [28577]
§ Ms QuinThe Government are committed to doing everything possible to reduce the number of suicides in prisons.
The Prison Service has a well-developed and well-respected strategy for caring for prisoners who are at risk of suicide or self-injury. It involves the identification and support of those prisoners who are considered to be at risk. Every prison has a multi-disciplinary suicide awareness team which meets regularly and oversees the implementation of the strategy in their establishment.
Prison staff also work closely with the Samaritans, who befriend prisoners in crisis through visits to prisons and by telephone. Over the last five years, the Samaritans have been actively involved in setting up listener/befriender schemes in prisons where selected prisoners are trained to provide peer group support for fellow prisoners in crisis. Listener schemes provide a valuable contribution in reducing the likelihood of suicide and self-injury.
I recently held a meeting with a range of representatives from interest groups concerned about suicides in prisons. The meeting provided a useful forum for the exchange of ideas on how to develop further strategies for reducing suicides in prisons.
The suicide awareness support unit (SASU), in Prison Service headquarters, examines each death in prison custody to see whether lessons can be learnt. They also provide advice and support to establishments, particularly those who are experiencing a cluster of deaths. The suicide awareness strategy in establishments is also audited by the Prison Service standards audit team. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales has been asked to carry out a thematic review of suicides in custody.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service reviewed its management guidelines on suicide awareness and prevention and published a revised policy document on 1 August 1996, individual or wing-based copies of which are available to staff in each prison. A synopsis of the guidelines identifying specifically the role and responsibilities of prison officers has been issued to every officer with prisoner contact in the Service.
Multi-disciplinary suicide awareness and management groups meet in each prison at least quarterly to discuss local suicide management issues, identify potential difficulties and recommend appropriate action where necessary.
The Samaritans provide regular support services in most prisons and are currently engaging with prison management in discussions regarding the potential for establishing the first listener scheme in a Northern Ireland prison later this year.
The Scottish Prison Service is currently re-examining its suicide awareness and prevention strategy. A revised strategy document is to be implemented in the near future: revised documentation is to be piloted in four prisons over a one-month period to establish if it is workable. Upon completion of the pilot study, the findings will be acted on as appropriate and it is hoped that the strategy will be implemented in full shortly thereafter. Teams of three 339W staff from each prison are being trained in the delivery of the strategy: this process should be completed by the end of April. The pilot study is running in parallel with the current strategy.