§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in what proportion of(a) young offender institutions and (b) adult prisons changes have been made to the physical cell environment to reduce ligature points. [84011]
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§ Hilary BennCell windows and beds are considered high risk, as statistically they are more used to attach ligatures. Ligatures can however be attached to many other elements of a cell structure and installed furniture. Establishments use local funding to address individual ligature attachment points, but unless a cell has been installed as a full "safer cell" its efficiency in reducing ligatures cannot effectively be measured, and are therefore not monitored.
The number of safer cell installations to date is as follows:
The Prison Service is currently working on a number of initiatives that will enable safer cell and reduced risk cell furniture to be more easily available to establishments. Work has commenced on the production of prototypes for large-scale production of safer cell furniture. The current initiative is hoped to reduce the current cost of safer cell furniture installations by approximately one third. Work is continuing with the Prison Service Industries to produce a range of furniture that is designed to reduce possible ligature attachments points. The furniture, when approved, will be available to establishments via the normal furniture supply routes.
- Adult male—2,100 cells
- Juvenile and Young Offender Institution—610 cells
- In addition 880 adult male safer cells are planned to come on line in 2003–04.