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| Sharp increase in prison suicides | Sharp increase in prison suicides |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The number of prisoners who killed themselves in jail rose significantly in 2007, according to official figures. | The number of prisoners who killed themselves in jail rose significantly in 2007, according to official figures. |
| The Ministry of Justice has confirmed there were 92 apparent self-inflicted deaths in England and Wales in the same year as a record prison population. | The Ministry of Justice has confirmed there were 92 apparent self-inflicted deaths in England and Wales in the same year as a record prison population. |
| The deaths do not represent a record - but are almost 40% higher than 2006, reversing two years of falls. | The deaths do not represent a record - but are almost 40% higher than 2006, reversing two years of falls. |
| Prisons Minister Maria Eagle said she sincerely regretted the increase and work was continuing to cut deaths. | |
| According to the Ministry of Justice figures, the number of apparent suicides in jail rose from a low of 67 in 2006 and 78 in 2005. The record number in recent years has been 95 deaths in both 2004 and 2002. | According to the Ministry of Justice figures, the number of apparent suicides in jail rose from a low of 67 in 2006 and 78 in 2005. The record number in recent years has been 95 deaths in both 2004 and 2002. |
| PRISON SUICIDES 1998 - 2007 1998: 821999: 912000: 812001: 73 2002: 952003: 942004: 95 2005: 782006: 672007: 92 Source: Ministry of Justice/Howard League for Penal Reform | |
| The vast majority, 84, were men and 41 remand prisoners made up the single largest group. Seven under-21 young offenders took their own lives. The youngest of these is thought to be a 15-year-old found hanged in November. | |
| There was a significant rise in the number of foreign prisoners apparently taking their own lives - 23 compared with six the year before. | There was a significant rise in the number of foreign prisoners apparently taking their own lives - 23 compared with six the year before. |
| Four people on indeterminate sentences for public protection and 19 on life sentence were among the deaths. | Four people on indeterminate sentences for public protection and 19 on life sentence were among the deaths. |
| The figures show that, while 92 people killed themselves, more than 100 others were resuscitated after self-harm incidents that would have led to death. | |
| Prisons Minister Maria Eagle said: "I sincerely regret this year's increase in self-inflicted deaths after the significant decreases of recent years. | Prisons Minister Maria Eagle said: "I sincerely regret this year's increase in self-inflicted deaths after the significant decreases of recent years. |
| "Our prisons contain large numbers of very vulnerable people, and caring for them is challenging and vital work. I know that all those involved remain totally committed, and I commend them for that." | "Our prisons contain large numbers of very vulnerable people, and caring for them is challenging and vital work. I know that all those involved remain totally committed, and I commend them for that." |
| Mental health review | Mental health review |
| The Forum on Preventing Deaths in Custody, a body made up of criminal justice and health experts, warned earlier this year that many deaths were preventable. It correctly predicted that deaths would go up during a year of jail overcrowding. | The Forum on Preventing Deaths in Custody, a body made up of criminal justice and health experts, warned earlier this year that many deaths were preventable. It correctly predicted that deaths would go up during a year of jail overcrowding. |
| Lancaster Farms: 15-year-old died at Young Offenders' Institute | |
| Ms Eagle said the government was considering the forum's report and had separately launched a review into how prisons deal with offenders with severe mental health problems. | Ms Eagle said the government was considering the forum's report and had separately launched a review into how prisons deal with offenders with severe mental health problems. |
| That review, led by former minister Lord Bradley, is looking at how to divert some of these offenders away from prison and will report in the summer. | That review, led by former minister Lord Bradley, is looking at how to divert some of these offenders away from prison and will report in the summer. |
| The jail population hit a record of more than 81,000 in the summer of 2007 but numbers have now eased slightly. | |
| The prison service says that approximately 130,000 people go through the system every year. Some 1,500 people a day are watched under special measures to cut suicide rates among inmates classed as high risks. | The prison service says that approximately 130,000 people go through the system every year. Some 1,500 people a day are watched under special measures to cut suicide rates among inmates classed as high risks. |
| Phil Wheatley, director general of the Prison Service, said: "Staff have continued to make strenuous efforts in this vital area of work in dealing with a challenging and vulnerable prison population. | Phil Wheatley, director general of the Prison Service, said: "Staff have continued to make strenuous efforts in this vital area of work in dealing with a challenging and vulnerable prison population. |
| "The rate of self inflicted deaths had reduced year on year over the previous four years. It is critical that we remain focused in this key area." | "The rate of self inflicted deaths had reduced year on year over the previous four years. It is critical that we remain focused in this key area." |
| Suicides in prison are independently investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. |