Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of suicides in prison.

Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Every death in custody is a tragedy and we continue to do all we can to improve the safety of prisoners.

We know that relationships between staff and prisoners plays an important role in preventing self-inflicted deaths in prisons and that is why we have announced additional investment in our workforce. As of 30 September 2023, there were 23,058 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Band 3-5 prison officers in post, an increase of 1,441 FTE since 30 September 2022. This means staff can provide more support for prisoners and better monitor the risk of harm. In addition to recruiting new officers, we are developing and phasing in a new safety training package for staff. It brings together information on related safety topics, including suicide and self-harm prevention, understanding risks, triggers and protective factors. This training is complemented by a revised version of the case management approach used in prisons to support people at risk of suicide or self-harm.

We will continue to fund the Samaritans (£625,000 each year until March 2025) to deliver the Listener scheme where prisoners are trained to provide emotional support to each other. We have also worked with the Samaritans to design an additional support service for prisons in the period following a self-inflicted death, with the aim of reducing the risk of further deaths.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides that have taken place in prisons in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2021 and (iv) 2022.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The data on self-inflicted deaths is recorded in our published Safety in Custody Statistics.

The number and rates of self-inflicted deaths across the estate in the 12 months to March 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published in the Safety in Custody Summary table which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1153227/Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2022-final-tables.xlsx.

We do not produce official statistics on suicides. Self-inflicted deaths are any death of a person who has apparently taken his or her own life irrespective of intent. This not only includes suicides but also accidental deaths as a result of the person’s own actions. This classification is used because it is not always known whether a person intended to take their own life.

We are unable to answer the question on attempted suicide as we do not record this data.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prison officers are trained in suicide prevention.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

The Prison Officer Entry Level Training Exceptional Delivery Model has been reviewed and has moved to a Level 3 Custody & Detention Apprenticeship in 2021/22 which enhances practical skills and is in line with adult learning principles and reflective practice which all new prisons officers complete. During the foundation training element there is an 8-week period of learning at a designated site prior to commencing duties at an establishment. The apprenticeship lasts between 12-15 months with support provided by apprenticeship coaches as well as line managers, located in prisons. During the 8-week learning period, there are dedicated sessions on Trauma Informed and Suicide Prevention which all learners must complete to become a fully trained Prison Officer as this is mandatory learning.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so how, their policies towards suicide prevention in prisons differ between remand and convicted prisoners.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar

The table below sets out the number of self-inflicted deaths of remand prisoners in the ten years to December 2021. It also shows the percentage of all such deaths that were of remand prisoners.

Our figures refer to self-inflicted deaths, rather than suicides. Self-inflicted deaths include any death of a person who has apparently taken his or her own life, irrespective of intent. This includes not only suicides but also accidental deaths as a result of the person’s own actions. We use this classification because we cannot always know whether someone intended to take their own life. Those are ultimately decisions for coroners, who investigate all deaths in custody. For similar reasons, we cannot identify “attempted suicides” separately from other forms of self-harm, as we may not know the prisoner’s intention.

HM Prison & Probation Service does not operate a different approach to the prevention of suicide and self-harm among remand prisoners. All prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide are supported equally, regardless of their situation. We recognise that remand is a known risk factor for self-harm and support is tailored to prisoners’ needs, particularly in the early days and weeks of custody. Following the unavoidable closure of courts in response to Covid-19, we are taking positive action to ensure more cases are heard and therefore to reduce the number of remand prisoners. This includes extending 32 nightingale courtrooms this year, installing video link equipment in all courts and increasing its capacity in prisons, removing the limit on Crown Court sitting days during 2021/22, and continuing to give priority to cases involving custody time limits.

Self-inflicted deaths of remand prisoners, 2012 to 2021

Found: overview Homelessness and at risk of homelessness Mental health Domestic abuse Care leavers Prisoners

Found: overview Homelessness and at risk of homelessness Mental health Domestic abuse Care leavers Prisoners

Found: Homelessness and at risk of homelessness Mental health Domestic abuse Care leavers Prisoners

Found: Homelessness and at risk of homelessness Mental health Domestic abuse Care leavers Prisoners

Found: homelessness Mental health Domestic violence and abuse Care leavers Prisoners