The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Call to tackle rise in deaths of prisoners
Arecord number of people have died in prisons in Scotland in the last three years, according to new research.
There were 121 deaths in jails between January 2020 and September this year, compared to 98 in the previous three full years.
Twenty-nine of the deaths were suicide, 25 involved drugs, 15 were Covid-related, 42 were attributed to “other” causes such as medical conditions, and two were homicides. Eight deaths are still awaiting classification.
The numbers – significantly higher than those in prisons in England – emerged in a study by Glasgow University.
After examining data going back to 1995, researchers said a person imprisoned in 2022 in Scotland would be twice as likely to die in jail as someone in 2008.
Sarah Armstrong, of Glasgow University and co-author of the report, said: “What’s more disturbing is that the numbers seem to be on the rise and that there seems to be no kind of interruption despite government promises to address this and it being established as a priority for targeting.
“Suicide and drug deaths seem to be leading, or motivating and fuelling this rise.”
She said researchers are urging the Scottish Prison Service to take in current restrictions and to make improving mental health a priority for inmates.
The figures come one year after a critical report by the same authors which examined around 200 fatal accident inquiries (FAI) into deaths in prison across a 15-year period.
They found that in 90% of cases, sheriffs determined nothing could be done to prevent or foresee the prisoner’s death. One year on and the problems identified with FAIS remain unchanged, the new report – called
Still Nothing To See Here? – said.
The report authors include Linda and Stuart Allan, whose 21-year-old student daughter Katie took her own life in Polmont prison in 2018 after she was jailed for a hit-and-run incident.
Ms Allan said: “As with last year’s review, time and time again the Crown Office are not presenting systemic failures.”
The report also looked at the prison service’s suicide prevention strategy called Talk To Me which was introduced six years ago.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “We have created a specialist investigations team to focus on these cases and are part of a multi-agency action group which is driving improvement.
“We feel this research paper does not fully capture the practical application of FAI legislation and would be pleased to meet with its authors.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We work closely with NHS partners to develop individualised plans, and provide contact with Samaritans, where trained Listeners provide additional support.”