Suicides In Prison

EDM number 508 in 2002-03, proposed by Annette Brooke on 14/01/2003.

That this House is appalled at the fact that 94 men, women and children took their own lives in prison in England and Wales in 2002; is very disturbed that this figure represents an increase of over 20 per cent. on 2001, and is the highest ever annual figure; is alarmed that almost half of these deaths were of people aged 30 or younger; believes that this dramatic increase is caused in part by prison overcrowding, which has worsened considerably during the year; recognises that as prisons receive an ever-increasing number of new inmates every week, it is difficult for staff to carry out thorough risk assessments; understands that some prison regimes are becoming increasingly impoverished as a result of higher numbers of prisoners, combined with staff shortages, and realises that many prisoners are spending long periods each day locked in their cells; is concerned that the prison population is rising rapidly in relation to the crime rate as a result of an ever more punitive approach to custodial sentences; further believes that this level of prison suicide is unacceptable in a civilised society; and welcomes the work of the Howard League for Penal Reform that highlights these shocking figures.

This motion has been signed by a total of 58 MPs.