Slainte
12-14-2004, 09:27 AM
LONDON (Reuters) - The number of deaths in custody have reached "shocking levels" and more must be done to protect the rights of vulnerable individuals prone to take their own lives in custody, a parliamentary report says.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, comprised of elected members of parliament and peers, said on Tuesday the inappropriate detention of high-risk people contributed to a prisoner taking his or her life every four days.
Britain has one of the biggest prison populations in Europe.
The report concluded some prisoners with special needs or mental health problems should be accommodated elsewhere.
"Until we change our whole approach to imprisoning vulnerable people we cannot begin to meet our positive obligations ... of the European Convention on Human Rights," said committee chair Jean Corston.
The committee also cited Britain's dependence on prison.
"The misplaced over-reliance on the prison system for some of the most vulnerable people in the country is at the heart of the problems that we encountered," added Corston.
Some 434 prisoners took their lives in England and Wales between 1999 and 2003, said the report, noting preliminary figures for 2004 show the number would rise this year from 94 last year.
The report follows a spate of high profile cases of deaths in custody, including that of serial killer Harold Shipman who killed himself in his cell at Wakefield prison in January.
The prison population in England and Wales has risen steadily in the last decade and critics argue the system does little to rehabilitate inmates.
With 75,000 men, women and children held, England and Wales have a higher percentage of people in prison than any other western European state, says the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Children were a particular worry, said the report.
In the last 15 years, 25 children have taken their lives in prison and two children died in secure training centres.
"There have been some deeply worrying cases of children and young people who have died while in the care of the state," said the report.
In August, the case of Adam Rickwood, 14, the youngest-ever child to hang himself at a secure training centre, shocked Britons and sparked calls for change.
The committee called for an inquiry into the case of Joseph Scholes who at 16 hanged himself from the bars of his cell with a sheet in a young offenders' institution two years ago.
The committee recommended the Home Office and Department of Health should set up a task-force to develop guidelines on the prevention of deaths in custody.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, comprised of elected members of parliament and peers, said on Tuesday the inappropriate detention of high-risk people contributed to a prisoner taking his or her life every four days.
Britain has one of the biggest prison populations in Europe.
The report concluded some prisoners with special needs or mental health problems should be accommodated elsewhere.
"Until we change our whole approach to imprisoning vulnerable people we cannot begin to meet our positive obligations ... of the European Convention on Human Rights," said committee chair Jean Corston.
The committee also cited Britain's dependence on prison.
"The misplaced over-reliance on the prison system for some of the most vulnerable people in the country is at the heart of the problems that we encountered," added Corston.
Some 434 prisoners took their lives in England and Wales between 1999 and 2003, said the report, noting preliminary figures for 2004 show the number would rise this year from 94 last year.
The report follows a spate of high profile cases of deaths in custody, including that of serial killer Harold Shipman who killed himself in his cell at Wakefield prison in January.
The prison population in England and Wales has risen steadily in the last decade and critics argue the system does little to rehabilitate inmates.
With 75,000 men, women and children held, England and Wales have a higher percentage of people in prison than any other western European state, says the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Children were a particular worry, said the report.
In the last 15 years, 25 children have taken their lives in prison and two children died in secure training centres.
"There have been some deeply worrying cases of children and young people who have died while in the care of the state," said the report.
In August, the case of Adam Rickwood, 14, the youngest-ever child to hang himself at a secure training centre, shocked Britons and sparked calls for change.
The committee called for an inquiry into the case of Joseph Scholes who at 16 hanged himself from the bars of his cell with a sheet in a young offenders' institution two years ago.
The committee recommended the Home Office and Department of Health should set up a task-force to develop guidelines on the prevention of deaths in custody.