HC Deb 15 March 2004 vol 419 c126W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the people in custody who have committed suicide since 1 January including their name, date of birth, date of death, prison in which they died, the reason for imprisonment, date of sentencing and length of sentence they were serving. [161183]

Paul Goggins

As publishing such details can cause distress to the families of those bereaved by a self-inflicted death in prison, I will write to the hon. Member with this information in full.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides in custody have been referred to the Prison Ombudsman in 2004 for investigation. [161184]

Paul Goggins

Since 1 January 2004, one apparently self-inflicted death has been referred to the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) for investigation. From 1 April 2004 the PPO will investigate all deaths of prisoners and probation hostel residents and any deaths of those held in immigration detention accommodation.

Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths in custody have occurred in the last 10 years as a result of a heart attack to which harsh treatment has been found to be a contributory factor. [158863]

Paul Goggins

With one possible exception in police custody in 1999 (in respect of which two inquests have failed to establish the exact cause of death), no heart-related death during the last 10 years in Police, Immigration or Prison Service custody has been related to "harsh treatment".