Jail suicide toll hits 84 as two die in Brixton
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The death by hanging of two remand prisoners at Brixton prison, south London, yesterday brought the annual suicide toll in prisons to 84.
The death by hanging of two remand prisoners at Brixton prison, south London, yesterday brought the annual suicide toll in prisons to 84.
Fulton O'Shea, 30, and Ertan Uzun, 25, were discovered hanging in their shared cell.
The rate of prison suicides is at a record high with an inmate taking their life every four days, the head of the Prison Service admitted last night. With the Service facing the traumatic Christmas period, when self-harm by prisoners usually increases, the annual figure is already in excess of the previous record of 82 last year.
The increase cannot be explained by changes in the prison population - the new figure represents an increase in suicides from 125 per 100,000 inmates last year to 134 per 100,000 inmates so far this year.
Nick Flynn, of the Prison Reform Trust, called on the Prison Service to work more closely with voluntary organisations such as The Samaritans and to employ more psychologists and psychiatrists.
The figures are particularly depressing for the Prison Service Director General Martin Narey who pledged to put the issue of jail suicides at the top of his agenda when he took up the senior post last year. Last night Mr Narey promised a renewed effort to reduce the number of deaths.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments