HL Deb 05 February 2001 vol 621 cc83-4WA
Lord Elder

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made on the review of the Prison Service's suicide and self-harm strategy. [HL617]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)

The review's analysis and recommendations have been accepted by the Director General of the Prison Service and by Ministers and will be implemented progressively from April 2001 with the aim of year on year reductions in prisoner suicide and self-harm. There will be a strong stress on a preventive strategy which invests most resources where the risks are highest. An all-round pro-active approach will be developed which encourages a supportive culture in prisons based on good staff-prisoner relationships, a constructive regime and a physically safe environment. There will be improved identification and case arrangements for high risk prisoners.

The review's recommendations will be developed and piloted in five establishments—Wandsworth, Feltham, Eastwood Park, Leeds and Winchester. They will be evaluated and rolled out to other prisons. The three-year strategy will involve a major investment of capital and staff in prisons. In the first year £8 million will be invested in implementation. Improvements will be made to reception and induction areas, for example through installing more first night centres, and by having more safe cells, crisis suites and gated cells.

New healthcare screening procedures will start in 10 pilot prisons. Wing staff will be supported in their work by in-reach mental health teams and by the establishment of dedicated drug detoxification units. There will be full-time suicide prevention co-ordinators in high risk local prisons. The numbers of trained listeners at high risk prisons will be increased substantially.

Copies of the review are being placed in the Library. The review recommended:

  • a move away from awareness towards prevention;
  • a risk-based strategy which invests more resources where the risks are highest and matches the level of support and intervention to the degree or risk of self-harm or suicide presented by the individual prisoner;
  • improved screening and levels of specialist support;
  • a better physical environment for prisoners, particularly when first received into custody;
  • more training in mental health and suicide prevention for front-line staff in particular;
  • better interventions for the management of repetitive self-injury;
  • increased numbers of prisoner/listeners in high risk prisons; and
  • better links with other agencies within the criminal justice system.