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Prisoners (Suicide)

01 January 1991

Prisoners (Suicide)
artdoc May=1991
House of Commons written answer 19.12.90 Col.198

Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department if he will list the total number of verdicts of
suicide which have been returned on prisoners who died by their
own hand during 1990 in England and Wales; and if he will make
a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold: As at 17 December, a total of 48 inmates had
died at their own hands during 1990. A verdict of suicide was
returned on 19 of these inmates; inquests on 19 of the deaths are
yet to be held.

Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department how many prisoners in England and Wales died by their
own hand in each year from 1980 until the latest available date;
and of these, what number were (a) remand prisoners, (b) female
prisoners, and (c) prisoners under the age of 21 years; and if
he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold: The information is set out in the table.

Deaths at the inmate's own hand at HM Prison Service
establishment 1 January 1980 -17 December 1990

Year Unsentenced Female Inmate All inmates
inmates1 inmates aged under 21(2)

1980 12 2 25(21) 198181221(16)
1982 15 -- 5 25(18)
1983 12 - 3 27(21)
1984 15 - 4 27(23)
1985 19 1 3 29(23)
1986 14 1 5 21(17)
1987 28 1 7 46(42)
1988 21 - 9 37(31)
19894 27 2 11 48(34)
19904 25 1 8 48(19)3

1 Includes inmates who had been convicted by not yet sentenced.
2 The figures in brackets show the number of deaths for which
a suicide verdict was returned,
3 Inquests have yet to he held on 19 deaths which occurred
in 1990.
4 To 17 December.