§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out(a) the number and (b) the rate per thousand inmates, of suicides at (i) Eastwood Park and (ii) all women's prisons, (A) in each of the last three full years and (B) in each month of the current year; and if he will make a statement. [141345]
§ Mr. BoatengThere have been three self-inflicted deaths at Eastwood Park this year. Overall deaths of women prisoners have totalled three in 1997 and 1998, four in 1999 and eight in 2000. Breakdowns in the form requested are given in the tables.
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Self-inflicted deaths by month 20001 Brachial Eastwood Park Holloway New Hall Styal Total January — — — — — 0 February — — — — — 0 March 1 — — — — 1 April — — — — 1 1 May 1 — — — — 1 June — 1 1 — — 2 July — — — — — 0 August — — — 1 — 1 September — 1 — — — 1 The three deaths at Eastwood Park, like those elsewhere, were, or are, being investigated to assess the adequacy of suicide awareness procedures with a view to implementation of action plans to address deficiencies. The numbers of self-inflicted deaths among women prisoners are relatively low but unfortunately rising this year. The Prison Service is reconsidering with Ministers its suicide/self-harm prevention strategy and an announcement will be made early in 2001.
A. Self-inflicted deaths and rates for Eastwood Park Prison by month, 20001 Month Number of deaths Rate per 1,000 inmates Rate per 100 inmates January 0 0 0 February 0 0 0 March 0 0 0 April 0 0 0 May 0 0 0 June 1 3.3 332.2 July 0 0 0 August 0 0 0 September 1 3.6 364.9 October 0 0 0 November 1 3.4 335.6 December 0 0 0 Total 3 10.1 1,006.7 1 As at 7 December 2000 Notes
1. The population figures are taken from end of month totals
2. The total rate was calculated using the end of October total population figures
B. Numbers of self-inflicted deaths in women's prisons in England and Wales 1997–20001 Calendar Year Establishment 1997 1998 1999 2000 Total Brachial — 1 1 2 4 Bullwood Hall 1 — — — 1 Eastwood Park — — — 3 3 Holloway — 1 2 1 4 Low Newton 1 — — — 1 New Hall — 1 1 1 3 Risley 1 — — — 1 Styal — — — 1 1 Total 3 3 4 8 18 1 As at 7 December 2000 Note
1999—one female prisoner died while in the custody of Prisoner Escort and Custody Services
There were no self-inflicted deaths at any of the following women's prisons during the period 1997–2000; Askham Grange, Cookham Wood, Drake Hall, East Sutton Park, Foston Hall, Highpoint and Send.
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Self-inflicted deaths by month 20001 Brachial Eastwood Park Holloway New Hall Styal Total October — — — — — 0 November — 1 — — — 1 December — — — — — 0 Total 2 3 1 1 1 8 1 As at 7 December 2000
C. Rates of self-inflicted deaths in women establishments in England and Wales, 1997–20001 Rate per 100,0002 Number of deaths 1997 112.1 3 1998 96.6 3 1999 123.2 4 2000 246.4 8 1 As at 7 December 2000 2 All women prisoners Note
Population figures taken from annual averages
Rate of self-inflicted deaths by month, 20001 Rate per 100,000 (all prison inmates) Rate per 100,000 (all female inmates) January 0 0 February 0 0 March 1.5 29.5 April 1.6 30.1 May 1.5 30.2 June 3.1 59.6 July 0 0 August 1.5 29.0 September 1.5 29.4 October 0 0 November 1.6 29.1 December 0 0 1 As at 7 December 2000 Note
Population figures are taken from monthly totals