Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) men and (b) women in prison have died by suicide in (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March and (iv) April 2020.
The numbers of self-inflicted deaths in the first three months of 2020 are set out below. Figures for April 2020 are not available yet; they will be published on 30 July.
Men | Women | |
January 2020 | 6 | 0 |
February 2020 | 3 | 0 |
March 2020 | 4 | 0 |
These figures are provisional. Other deaths where we are awaiting further information may later be classified as self-inflicted.
Too many prisoners are taking their own lives. That is one of the reasons we introduced the key worker scheme in 2018, supported by the recruitment of extra prison officers, so that every offender can get dedicated support and have someone to talk to.
We have given over 25,000 staff better training to identify and support those at risk of suicide and self-harm, and we are improving the effectiveness of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork process to support those at risk. We are also investing an extra £2.75 billion to modernise prisons, combat drug use and improve the environment in which offenders live.