PRISON OMBUDSMAN FINALLY RELEASES REPORT INTO DEATHS AT HMP STYAL TWO YEARS AFTER COMPLETION



GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE ‘REVIEW’ OF VULNERABLE WOMEN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM



The Ombudsman report into the spate of deaths at HMP Styal has been published today after a delay of over two years. The report which was completed in October 2003 identifies serious inadequacies at Styal in relation to the regimes, conditions and procedures with particular focus on the treatment and care of women withdrawing from drugs.



Similar concerns had been expressed by HM Inspector of Prisons following her inspection of Styal in February 2002.



The report fails to reflect any of the evidence that arose from the inquests into the six deaths and the highly critical jury and coroner’s findings.



Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST, said:

“The Government response to the publication of the Ombudsman report fails to address why it was that the Prison Service did not respond to well documented concerns about the situation at Styal until the sixth death had occurred and why it failed to implement a recommendation made by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons following an inspection of Styal prison in February 2002 "that, as a matter of urgency, a proper detoxification regime should be put in place". Had this taken place deaths may well have been prevented.

INQUEST questions the ability of the current investigative process to hold the Prison Service to account and protect the right to life of those in its custody. Investigations and inquests into deaths in prison are subject to serious delay, can only examine individual deaths in isolation and have a limited remit – all of which frustrate the opportunity to learn the lessons. Since the deaths at Styal another 30 women have died in prisons around the country. We reiterate the point we made when the Ombudsman investigation was announced that what is needed is a wide ranging inquiry in public that examines issues outside of the scope of inquests including allocation, sentencing and treatment and care of vulnerable women and ensures the meaningful participation of bereaved families”.



Pauline Campbell, the mother of 18-year-old Sarah Campbell who died in HMP Styal on 18 January 2003 said:

“The Ombudsman's report, at best, is an out-of-date document. Handed to the Home Office in October 2003, it has taken over 2 years to publish. Furthermore, it is a matter of concern that the report was finalised when only one of the six inquests had taken place. Promises were made that publication would follow the sixth Styal inquest, but that was held seven months ago. Overall, the dilatory response of the Prison Service and the Home Office is disgraceful, given that six women lost their lives in a 12 month period at Styal. No explanation was ever forthcoming about why the then Prisons Minister, Paul Goggins, waited until six deaths occurred before sending in the Ombudsman to investigate. The whole business leaves an ugly stain on the record of the Prison Service and the Home Office.”



Notes to Editors

INQUEST is the only non-governmental organisation in England and Wales that works directly with the families of those who die in custody. It provides an independent free legal and advice service to bereaved people on inquest procedures and their rights in the coroner’s courts.





Deaths of Women in HMP Styal August 2002 - August 2003

Name
Classification
Establishment
Ethnicity
Age
Status
Cause
Date Of Death

Julie Bernadette Walsh
Self-Inflicted
HMP Styal
UK White
39
Convicted
Overdose
12/08/2003

Hayley Williams
Self-Inflicted
HMP Styal
UK White
41
Convicted
Hanging
04/06/2003

Jolene Willis
Self-Inflicted
HMP Styal
UK White
25
Convicted
Hanging
20/04/2003

Sarah Campbell
Self-Inflicted
HMP Styal
UK White
18
Convicted
Overdose
18/01/2003

Anna Baker
Self-Inflicted
HMP Styal
UK Black
29
Remanded
Hanging
26/11/2002

Nissa Ann Smith
Self-Inflicted
HMP Styal
UK White
20
Remanded
Hanging
10/08/2002


Source: INQUEST Casework and monitoring