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Up to 600 deaths in state custody Report reveals 500 custody deaths
(about 1 hour later)
Between 500 and 600 people die every year in state custody in England and Wales, a report due out later will say.Between 500 and 600 people die every year in state custody in England and Wales, a report due out later will say.
The figures include 73 self-inflicted deaths in prisons out of a total jail population of about 81,000 last year, and a further 41 in secure hospitals. The figures, seen by the BBC, were compiled for the first time by the Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody.
The Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody, which compiled the figures, said many deaths could be avoided. They cover deaths in prisons, police cells, secure hospitals and other establishments and include those from natural causes, suicides and murders.
The forum was established to help cut deaths in custody, but campaigners say it is toothless and lacks resources. The forum was established to help cut deaths in custody - but campaigners say it is toothless and lacks resources.
name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map"> See figures for deaths in custody in England and Wales The report is the first time figures from across the criminal justice system have been brought together for a complete look at deaths in state custody.
The total figure covers deaths in prisons, police cells, secure hospitals and other establishments and includes those from natural causes, suicides and murders. Toothless
The Ministry of Justice said about two-thirds of the deaths were from natural causes.
It is the first time figures from across the criminal justice system have been brought together for a complete look at deaths in state custody.
'Low ebb'
Forum chairman John Wadham told BBC News: "People, not surprisingly, are in a pretty bad state in some prisons, and particularly when they enter prison in the first place. We need to provide them with support.
READ THE FINDINGS Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody: Annual Report [228KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
"We need to provide them with ways of dealing with their emotional difficulties.
"But we also need to design the cells and the equipment and supervise them so that they also can't commit suicide when they're at a low ebb."
The aim of the forum is to spread best practice and information on preventing custody deaths.The aim of the forum is to spread best practice and information on preventing custody deaths.
READ THE FINDINGS Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody: Annual Report [228KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
But the campaign group Inquest described the forum as "toothless" because it had no formal powers and lacked resources.But the campaign group Inquest described the forum as "toothless" because it had no formal powers and lacked resources.
'Social dustbins' The forum was established after the Joint Committee on Human Rights called for the Home Office and Department for Health to set up a multi-agency body to monitor deaths in any form of state custody, including mental hospitals.
The forum was established after the Joint Committee on Human Rights called for the Home Office and Department of Health to set up a multi-agency body to monitor deaths in any form of state custody, including mental hospitals. The forum is chaired by John Wadham, the legal head of the incoming Commission for Equality and Human Rights and formerly deputy chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Mr Wadham, the legal head of the incoming Commission for Equality and Human Rights and formerly deputy chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, is joined on the forum by representatives from the police, Prison Service and Youth Justice Board. Other members include representatives from the police, Prison Service and Youth Justice Board.
The forum has no funding of its own, but says it wants to bring about improvements through its standing and credibility among criminal justice professionals. The forum has no funding of its own - but says it wants to bring about improvements through its standing and credibility among criminal justice professionals.
Prisons Minister David Hanson said the number of suicides had fallen in the past three years as a proportion of those in jail. Pauline Campbell, whose daughter Sarah died in custody, told BBC News that improvements were essential.
However, he acknowledged the need for "greater continuity" between different branches of the criminal justice system.
Pauline Campbell, whose daughter Sarah died in custody, said that improvements were essential.
She said: "I think prisons are overwhelmed. They're being used as social dustbins for people who are mentally ill, drug and alcohol dependents, the homeless and so on.She said: "I think prisons are overwhelmed. They're being used as social dustbins for people who are mentally ill, drug and alcohol dependents, the homeless and so on.
"And given that we have such a high proportion of prisoners who have psychiatric difficulties, it is inevitable that these tragic deaths will occur unless action is taken to prevent this happening.""And given that we have such a high proportion of prisoners who have psychiatric difficulties, it is inevitable that these tragic deaths will occur unless action is taken to prevent this happening."
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class="data416">DEATHS IN CUSTODY IN ENGLAND AND WALES

   2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 Police 36 28 Not available Prison 199 164 162 Patients held under Mental Health Act 328 373 351 Immigration Detention 4 3 0 Approved Premises 20 17 10 Youth Custody 3 1 0 TOTAL 590 586 523 Source: IPCC 		Are you affected by the issues covered in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. (These will not be published).
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