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Home Office

Answer

Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many inmates of young offenders institutions (a) committed and (b) attempted suicide in each year since 1977; [122747] (2) how many cases of self-harm by inmates of young offenders institutions took place in each year since 1977. [122726] Mr. Boateng: The information requested is given in the tables from the earliest year that records are available. Information about attempted suicides is not recorded separately, but is incorporated into figures on self-harm incidents. Incidents of self-harm at HMP young offenders institutions 1990-91 to 1999-2000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Financial year Incidents of self-harm 1990-91 312 1991-92 341 1992-93 469 1993-94 474 1994-95 717 1995-96 1,143 1996-97 793 1997-98 879 1998-99 944 1999-2000{1} n/a _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Not yet available Self-inflicted deaths at HMP young offenders institutions 1988-2000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Calendar year Number of deaths 1988 1 1989 2 1990 2 1991 4 1992 4 1993 1 1994 1 1995 2 1996 6 1997 5 1998 5 1999 8 2000{1} 1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} As at 16 May 2000 Notes: 1. Establishments have been categorised according to their primary role. However, it should be noted that there are a number of other prisons that hold young offenders (eg male remand centres) which are not included. 2. Incidents do not equate to numbers of prisoners as an individual prisoner may self harm more than once. 3. Self harm data are derived from information provided by establishments to the Prison Health Policy Unit. This data include information on all attempted suicides. 4. Prior to 1990, data on self-harm have not been held centrally in a format which permits distinction according to type of establishment. 5. Prior to 1988, data on suicides have not been held centrally in a format which permits distinction according to type of establishment. 6. It should be noted that not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

350 c219-20W;350 c221-2W; 122747;122726

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Young offenders Suicide Self-harm Young offender institutions

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk