Death in custody report highlights 'systemic failures'

A joint report by the Prison Reform Trust and Inquest found a variety of common themes in the circumstances of the 200 under-25s to have died in custody since March 2002, including nine who were under 18.

Despite being some of the most disadvantaged young people and experiencing problems with self-harm, substance misuse and mental health, the report found that many “were placed in prisons with unsafe environments and cells”.

They were also found to have been subjected to bullying, segregation and restraint, and received poor medical care.

The report, Fatally Flawed, calls for a raft of changes to the system, including raising the custody threshold to ensure prison is an absolute last resort, and treating minor offences as a public health, rather than criminal justice, issue.

It also calls for the establishment of a “new distinct secure estate” that offers therapeutic interventions.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said many of the deaths in the past 10 years could have been prevented by effective safeguarding measures and greater co-operation between health, welfare and criminal justice agencies.

“After 200 deaths in ten years it is time to learn that locking up our most vulnerable children and young people in our bleakest institutions is a process that is fatally flawed,” she added.

Maggie Atkinson, children’s commissioner for England, said the situation relating to children and young people in custody must be closely monitored and scrutinised.

“The Office of the Children’s Commissioner continues to work with the Ministry of Justice and the Youth Justice Board to provide scrutiny in this area through regular visits to secure establishments to monitor the welfare of children in custody,” she said.

“Some lessons have been learned from previous tragedies with action undertaken to prevent another young life tragically ending. The findings from this research will be extremely helpful to aid further improvements in this area.”