Prison death protestor arrested

A mother whose daughter died in prison has been arrested, while demonstrating over the number of women who take their own lives in jail.

Pauline Campbell organised the protest at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, on Tuesday after the recent death of prisoner Louise Davis.

Mrs Campbell was arrested for stopping two prison vans from entering the jail but later released without charge.

She said she wanted to raise awareness of the death toll of women in jail.

Women who have died through self-harm in UK prisons in 2003 Jessica Adam, hanged, New Hall Petra Blanksby, hanged, New Hall Wendy Booth, hanged, Durham Jayne Buck, hanged, Durham Sarah Campbell, overdose, Styal Jennifer Clifford, hanged, Bullwood Hall Leanne Gidney, hanged, Brockhill Emma Levey, hanged, Downview Clare Parsons, hanged, Eastwood Park Helena Price, hanged, New Hall Sue Stevens, hanged, New Hall Julie Walsh, overdose, Styal Hayley Williams, hanged, Styal Jolene Willis, hanged, Styal

Mrs Campbell's daughter Sarah died at HMP Styal, Cheshire, in January 2003, after an apparent overdose of antidepressants.

Since her death, another 18 women prisoners have killed themselves.

Mrs Campbell said the number of deaths was too high and she wanted the public to know what was happening.

"Action must be taken to stop sending these women to prison in the first place," she said.

"Most of them are mentally ill and shouldn't be in prison at all.

"Six out of seven women are in prison for non-violent offences.

"Serious questions need to be asked and one of them is do these women need to be imprisoned"