40% rise in apparent suicides in prison
According to figures for England and Wales released by the Ministry of Justice, there were 92 “self-inflicted” deaths in 2007, including a 15 year old boy.
Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said:
“This massive increase in prison suicides of almost 40% on 2006 is a result of the pressures of chronic overcrowding across the prison estate.
“Far too many people with serious and enduring mental health problems are held in custody, which despite the best efforts of prison staff, can only make their illness worse.”
Lucie Russell, director of SmartJustice, said: “This is an unacceptable number of deaths especially when some of those who killed themselves were children as young as 15 years old.
“Many people who commit suicide in prison are disturbed and damaged and shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
“Using prison as the ultimate social service only leads to more tragedies of this kind.”
To read the statement made by the Ministry of Justice click here
