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Information about fatalities in prisons in Britain will now be released every week, marking a significant step towards greater transparency and openness.
The PPO will release weekly reports revealing the identities of those who have passed away, the specific prison in which they were incarcerated, and the date of their death.
In the past, information about the deceased individuals in prisons was not made public until an official investigation was conducted, which could often be a lengthy process lasting several months or even years.
The decision was made in response to a 22% increase in self-inflicted deaths in prison in 2023, as reported by the Ministry of Justice. Out of a total of 311 deaths, 93 were classified as self-inflicted.
The number of self-harm occurrences has drastically increased, with one happening every seven minutes in the country’s prisons. In total, there were 67,773 self-harm incidents in the 12-month period leading up to September 2023, which is a 17% increase from the previous year.
In the official announcement, ombudsman Adrian Usher expressed the significance of enhancing transparency and increasing trust in investigations.
The individual informed The Independent: “My aim since joining the PPO has been to increase transparency in our work and investigations.”
I have made the decision to publicly reveal the names of those who have passed away that we are currently investigating. This choice was made in order to increase our level of transparency and to recognize the individual who has passed away at the beginning of our investigation.
We believe that not identifying the person may greatly distress the families of all current inmates at the facility until they are assured that their loved one is not involved.
He stated that the PPO will guarantee that the next of kin has been informed prior to sharing any information. He also mentioned that if there is any feedback indicating that the announcement is premature, they will aim to postpone it.
I hope that our investigations will inspire greater trust from the public and reassure them that we are promptly looking into the circumstances of deaths.
The ombudsman’s website released a list of recent deaths on Thursday, which revealed that six deaths from the week of February 22 are being investigated.
Two individuals have died at HMP Littlehey, a facility in Cambridgeshire that houses male sex offenders with a category C classification. Additionally, there have been deaths at HMP Lindholme, HMP Fosse Way operated by Serco, HMP Whatton, and HMP Northumberland.
More information about the inquiry into every deadly occurrence will be released once the official inquiries have been completed.
Mark Leech, the editor of The Prisons Handbook for England and Wales, expressed approval for the shift “from being secretive to being transparent” – although the charity Inquest has expressed worries about how this may affect families who have lost loved ones.
Mr. Leech, author of a critical editorial about the PPO’s failure to reveal information about deaths in custody in the 2023 edition of the annual reference book, stated that the change in ombudsman policy from secrecy to transparency regarding deaths in prisons is a significant and historic moment.
I have consistently brought up the issue of the state’s failure to disclose information about deaths that occur in their custody to every prisons ombudsman since 2010. Despite my efforts, no progress was made until now.
This sudden change of direction will positively impact the perceived autonomy of the prisons ombudsman and also demonstrates consideration for grieving families. For the past 30 years since the establishment of the prisons ombudsman, these families have been mistreated and disregarded.
The Inquest organization, which provides support for families who have lost loved ones, expressed approval for the change but also raised concerns about the potential effects of quickly releasing information on families who have not yet held a funeral.
Lucy McKay, a representative for the organization, stated to The Independent that it is crucial for there to be transparency in cases of deaths in prison. This is necessary in order for the public to be informed about the fatal outcomes of our flawed criminal justice system.
While the consistent release of data regarding individual deaths and the corresponding prisons is appreciated, it must also consider the emotional needs of those who have lost loved ones.
The passing of an individual in prison leaves behind numerous grieving family members and friends who are coping with the loss of someone dear to them.
Source: independent.co.uk
