UK prisons see suicides soar

A study into suicides in prison has been critical of the prison authorities after seeing a staggering 71% rise in self-inflicted deaths in prison.

Prison and Probation Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen has released two critical reports following the rise.

In 2013-4 89 prisoners committed suicide in, up from 52 incidents the previous year.

In half of the cases the Ombudsman reviewed the existing care plan for vulnerable prisoners – the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork Plan – was not “implemented properly”.

In the study prisons have been criticised for the level of care given to offenders with mental health problems. Furthermore, when risks are identified the action taken is generally inadequate.

The UK Prison Service has been warned that it must act to reduce the “sharp and troubling rise” in suicides.

The report says that staff do not always recognise when a prisoner might be at risk.

The Ministry of Justice responded to the report in a statement: “We are committed to reducing the number of deaths in custody and are carefully investigating the rise in self-inflicted deaths.”