§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many safe cells have been installed since 7 July 2000; [151825]
(2) how many people have committed suicide since 7 July 2000; how many of them were (a) female, (b) male, (c) remand prisoners and (d) aged under 21 years; and how many suicides took place in safe cells. [151824]
§ Mr. BoatengNo safer cells have been installed since 7 July 2000, but 1,000 are planned in the three years from April 2001. Rye Hill prison which opened in January this year and Dovegate prison (which will open later this year) will have over 1,000 cells in which elements of the safer cell are incorporated.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 5 February a new three-year strategy to reduce prisoner suicide and self-harm in prisons. One strand of the strategy will be physical improvements to reception and induction areas, including the creation of more safer cells, crisis suites and gated cells that enable staff to watch closely at-risk prisoners.
There have been the following numbers of self-inflicted deaths since 7 July 2000: (a) female—3; (b) male—46; (c) remand prisoners—28; and (d) aged under 21 years—11. There have been no self-inflicted deaths in safer cells.