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UK: A duty of care

01 September 2005

Few shed any tears when the serial killer Harold Shipman hanged himself at HMP Wakefield on 13 January 2004, but it would be reasonable to expect those who owed a duty of care to Shipman to be concerned for his welfare.

The recent investigation into Shipman's suicide by the Prison Ombudsman (and former Prison Reform Trust director) Stephen Shaw, has, unsurprisingly concluded that the death by hanging could neither have been prevented or predicted. This conclusion was reached despite the fact that Shipman was known to be distressed that he could not afford to telephone his wife, having lost privileges for refusing to undertake offending behaviour courses, and that he was a life sentence prisoner in the first year of his sentence - a known risk indicator for suicidality. Staff at Wakefield failed to call paramedics or contact a doctor for two hours after Shipman was found. His wife Primrose heard about his death from another relative, who had heard the news on the radio, Wakefield having incorrect details of Shipman's next of kin. Prisoners gave evidence to the Ombudsman that Shipman was routinely taunted and bullied by staff but this was discounted by the Ombudsman.

Sixty-one prisoners have taken their own lives thus far this year. In 2004, ninety-five prisoners took their own lives, but no call was raised for the resignation of any minister or prison service director.

Prisons Ombudsman, INQUEST.