Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat), on Tuesday, 14 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 58 members in total.

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SUICIDES IN PRISON

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.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

508 

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Prisoners Suicide

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk