The number of prisoner deaths in which the use of new
psychoactive substances (NPS) may have played a part has now
risen to at least 79, said Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO)
Nigel Newcomen. Today he addressed the All-Party Parliamentary
Group on Penal Affairs at the House of Lords.
Looking back at his six-year tenure, and discussing the rise in
self-inflicted deaths in prisons, Mr Newcomen said the prison
system was yet to emerge from a crisis. He discussed major themes
that have emerged from his investigations and studies into deaths
in custody that need to be acted upon, and mentioned the problem
of mental ill-health among prisoners, which needs to be better
recognised by staff and, if recognised, better managed.
Nigel Newcomen said:
“As well as mental ill-health, another contributory factor to the
increase in suicide in prison is the epidemic of new psychoactive
substances. My researchers have now identified 79 deaths between
June 2013 and September 2016 where the deceased was known or
strongly suspected to have taken NPS before death or where their
NPS use was a key issue during their time in prison. Of these
investigations, 56 were self-inflicted deaths.
In the past, Mr Newcomen has highlighted the four types of risk
from NPS:
- a risk to physical health - NPS use may hasten the effects of
underlying health concerns;
- a risk to mental health, with extreme and
unpredictable behaviour and psychotic episodes, sometimes linked
to suicide and self-harm;
- behavioural problems, where the NPS user has presented
violent or aggressive behaviour, which is often uncharacteristic
for that prisoner; and
- the risk of debt or bullying, as the use of NPS often results
in prisoners getting into debt with prison drug
dealers.
Nigel Newcomen said:
“Establishing direct causal links between NPS and the death is
not easy, but my investigations identified a number of cases
where my clinical reviewers considered that NPS led to psychotic
episodes which resulted in self-harm. In other cases, NPS led to
bullying and debt of the vulnerable, also resulting in
self-harm.
“NPS is a scourge in prison, which I have described as a
“game-changer” for prison safety. Reducing both their supply and
demand for them is essential.
“But neither mental ill-health, nor the availability of NPS
wholly explain the rise in suicides in prison. Every case is an
individual tragedy with numerous triggers. And, in such complex
circumstances, the safety net of effective suicide prevention
procedures is essential. Unfortunately, too often my
investigations identify repeated failings in prison suicide
prevention procedures.”
- ENDS -
NOTES TO EDITORS
- A copy of the speech can be found on our website from 14 July
2017. Visit www.ppo.gov.uk.
- A copy of Learning Lessons Bulletins: Fatal
Incidents Investigations Issue 9: New Psychoactive
Substances, published in July 2015 by the PPO, can be
found here.
- The PPO investigates deaths that occur in prison, immigration
detention or among the residents of probation approved premises.
The PPO also investigates complaints from prisoners, those
on probation and those held in immigration removal centres.
