HC Deb 08 May 1998 vol 311 c513W
Mr. Allan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates of young offender institutions have(a) committed suicide, (b) attempted suicide and (c) been victims of violence, in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [40024]

Ms Quin

The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, information is available on the number of self-inflicted deaths, the recorded incidents of self-harm and the recorded incidents of assault of a prisoner on a prisoner. It should be noted that not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide. The figures on self-harm and assault of a prisoner on a prisoner may include a number of incidents concerning the same prisoner. Definitions and methods of recording both these types of incident have also changed over time. The broader definition of incidents of self-harm is now used rather than attempted suicide. The figure for incidents of self-harm for 1997/98 is provisional.

1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
Self-inflicted deaths 2 14 8
Reported self-harm 1,815 1,158 1,264
Reported assault of prisoner on prisoner 463 678 947