The Ministry of Justice today released the latest statistics on deaths and self-harm in prisons in England and Wales.
Deborah Coles, Director of INQUEST, said: “These statistics reveal the devastating impact of Covid-19 and highly restricted prison regimes on both mental and physical health of people in prisons. For every one of these 396 people’s deaths there is a grieving family, searching for answers.
This government made a choice not to undertake largescale early releases and radically reduce the prison population, long before the second wave of Covid-19 took effect.
In the short-term urgent action is needed to ensure people in prison have access to healthcare and vaccinations and restrictions are eased as soon as possible. In the long term, we need a dramatic reduction of the prison population and more investment in radical community alternatives. Not more prisons.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information contact Lucy McKay on 020 7263 1111 or lucymckay@inquest.org.uk
Inquest Response To Latest Data On Deaths In Prison
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The Ministry of Justice today released the latest statistics on deaths and self-harm in prisons in England and Wales.
Deborah Coles, Director of INQUEST, said: “These statistics reveal the devastating impact of Covid-19 and highly restricted prison regimes on both mental and physical health of people in prisons. For every one of these 396 people’s deaths there is a grieving family, searching for answers.
This government made a choice not to undertake largescale early releases and radically reduce the prison population, long before the second wave of Covid-19 took effect.
In the short-term urgent action is needed to ensure people in prison have access to healthcare and vaccinations and restrictions are eased as soon as possible. In the long term, we need a dramatic reduction of the prison population and more investment in radical community alternatives. Not more prisons.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information contact Lucy McKay on 020 7263 1111 or lucymckay@inquest.org.uk
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