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Agencies blamed over boy's death Agencies blamed over boy's death
(20 minutes later)
The death of a 16-year-old in custody was partly due to failures by agencies, an inquest jury has said.The death of a 16-year-old in custody was partly due to failures by agencies, an inquest jury has said.
Gareth Price, 16, of Durham, was found hanging at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institution (YOI) the day before he was to be sentenced for rape.Gareth Price, 16, of Durham, was found hanging at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institution (YOI) the day before he was to be sentenced for rape.
The jury, returning a verdict of death by hanging, said the council, Gareth's solicitor and a psychiatrist were among those who "contributed" to his death.The jury, returning a verdict of death by hanging, said the council, Gareth's solicitor and a psychiatrist were among those who "contributed" to his death.
His family said he may have lived if people had "done their job properly".His family said he may have lived if people had "done their job properly".
Gareth was found hanging in his segregation cell at the YOI on 19 January 2005. He was taken to hospital but died the next day.Gareth was found hanging in his segregation cell at the YOI on 19 January 2005. He was taken to hospital but died the next day.
North Lancashire Coroner Dr James Adeley said he was angered by the failure of anyone to intervene.North Lancashire Coroner Dr James Adeley said he was angered by the failure of anyone to intervene.
Speaking at the conclusion of a three-month inquest, Dr Adeley said: "What angers me most about Gareth Price's death is the number of organisations and individuals who have failed to intervene.Speaking at the conclusion of a three-month inquest, Dr Adeley said: "What angers me most about Gareth Price's death is the number of organisations and individuals who have failed to intervene.
If everyone involved with Gareth had done their job properly he might not have died Price familyIf everyone involved with Gareth had done their job properly he might not have died Price family
"There was not just a single missed opportunity, it was a series of missed opportunities by a series of groups and organisations.""There was not just a single missed opportunity, it was a series of missed opportunities by a series of groups and organisations."
Dr Adeley said he sympathised with prison officers who found the teenager because they were in "an impossible position".Dr Adeley said he sympathised with prison officers who found the teenager because they were in "an impossible position".
He said there were a number of failings, both individual and managerial, at County Durham Youth Engagement Team.He said there were a number of failings, both individual and managerial, at County Durham Youth Engagement Team.
"The actions that occurred amount to little more than going through the motions," he added."The actions that occurred amount to little more than going through the motions," he added.
He will be writing to the Youth Justice Board, which oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales, to raise his concerns.He will be writing to the Youth Justice Board, which oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales, to raise his concerns.
'Inadequate''Inadequate'
The foreman of the jury concluded that several agencies involved in Gareth's care had failed in their duty, including council youth services, his own solicitor, and a visiting psychiatrist.The foreman of the jury concluded that several agencies involved in Gareth's care had failed in their duty, including council youth services, his own solicitor, and a visiting psychiatrist.
She said: "The jury finds that all the agencies dealing with Gareth Price provided a most inadequate and negative input to his needs and ultimately contributed to his death."She said: "The jury finds that all the agencies dealing with Gareth Price provided a most inadequate and negative input to his needs and ultimately contributed to his death."
She described the failure of his family solicitor to pass on information about incidents of self-harm obtained in December 2004 as "a serious omission".She described the failure of his family solicitor to pass on information about incidents of self-harm obtained in December 2004 as "a serious omission".
The inquest also heard how a prison psychologist's report highlighting the risk of self-harm posed to Gareth Price never reached the prison governor.The inquest also heard how a prison psychologist's report highlighting the risk of self-harm posed to Gareth Price never reached the prison governor.
Lancashire County Council Youth Offending Team and Lancaster Youth Offending Team also "had different ideas as to who was responsible for line and performance management", the court heard.Lancashire County Council Youth Offending Team and Lancaster Youth Offending Team also "had different ideas as to who was responsible for line and performance management", the court heard.
'Vulnerable children''Vulnerable children'
In a statement released afterwards, his family said: "What hurts the most is that we now know that experts had seen Gareth while he was in prison and predicted that he was at a high risk of killing himself at the time of the sentence.In a statement released afterwards, his family said: "What hurts the most is that we now know that experts had seen Gareth while he was in prison and predicted that he was at a high risk of killing himself at the time of the sentence.
"We were never told this and neither were the prison officers who were looking after him at that time."We were never told this and neither were the prison officers who were looking after him at that time.
"If everyone involved with Gareth had done their job properly he might not have died.""If everyone involved with Gareth had done their job properly he might not have died."
Learning from deaths in custody is a key strand of the prisoner suicide prevention strategy Ministry of JusticeLearning from deaths in custody is a key strand of the prisoner suicide prevention strategy Ministry of Justice
Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, an organisation which offers legal advice to families of youngsters who die in custody, called for a public inquiry.Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, an organisation which offers legal advice to families of youngsters who die in custody, called for a public inquiry.
"How many more have to die before the government hold the Youth Justice Board to account for its failings and review the use of prison for vulnerable and troubled children?," she said. "It is shameful that despite all the information available about how vulnerable Gareth was, every agency that he came into contact with failed him," she said.
"The government must set up a full and holistic public enquiry into the youth justice system before more children die.""The government must set up a full and holistic public enquiry into the youth justice system before more children die."
A spokeswoman from the Ministry of Justice said their sympathies were with Gareth's family.A spokeswoman from the Ministry of Justice said their sympathies were with Gareth's family.
"Every death in prison affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply," she said."Every death in prison affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply," she said.
"Ministers, the Ministry of Justice and the Prison Service are completely committed to reducing the number of such tragic incidents."Ministers, the Ministry of Justice and the Prison Service are completely committed to reducing the number of such tragic incidents.
"Learning from deaths in custody is a key strand of the prisoner suicide prevention strategy, and we will be carefully considering the verdict to see what lessons can be learnt from Gareth's death.""Learning from deaths in custody is a key strand of the prisoner suicide prevention strategy, and we will be carefully considering the verdict to see what lessons can be learnt from Gareth's death."