Concern over levels of deaths and self-harm at Yorkshire prison

INSPECTORS HAVE called for action over worrying levels of deaths and self-harm in a Yorkshire jail.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke was “very concerned” by the “increased levels of selfharm” and the number of deaths after visiting HMP Doncaster.

The South Yorkshire category B jail and young offender institution – which holds around 1,100 male criminals of whom a quarter are convicted sex offenders – was badly overcrowded with worrying levels of violence and a ready availability of drugs, according to a report.

But inspectors also praised the “consistent leadership” and some improved facilities at the Sercorun prison.

The news comes after research by campaigners suggested as many as six prisoners died behind bars every week.

Mr Clarke said: “We were very concerned by the increased levels of self-harm, and by the fact that there had been five self-inflicted deaths in the year leading up to the inspection. Tragically there was another shortly after the inspection.

“The number of prisoners subject to assessment and care procedures because of the perceived risk they posed to themselves was in danger of becoming so great as to be unmanageable.”

Recommendations from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, which investigates jail deaths, were not always reviewed and a scheme in which prisoners are trained by the Samaritans to offer confidential emotional support to inmates was not in place, according to the report.

A downward trend in assaults was “welcome” but levels were still higher than during the previous inspection and higher than at similar prisons, inspectors said.