City jail has worst suicide toll

Armley jail has been criticised before over its high suicide rates

More inmates committed suicide at Armley jail in Leeds than any other local prison in England last year, new figures have revealed.

Seven men killed themselves in 2006 - a sharp rise on the previous six years which each saw two or three deaths.

Liverpool and Manchester prisons, which both reported four suicides last year, had the second worst records, according to the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Its survey of 39 local prisons showed an overall drop in suicides from 2005.

Local prisons, which deal with large numbers of remand prisoners and tend to be overcrowded, reported a total of 48 suicides in 2006, down from 55 in 2005.

PRISONS WITH MORE THAN ONE SUICIDE IN 2006 Bedford - 2 Blakenhurst - 3 Brixton - 3 Bullingdon - 2 Durham - 2 Holme House - 2 Leeds - 7 Lincoln - 3 Liverpool - 4 Manchester - 4 Parc - 2 Preston - 2 Source: Home Office

Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, called for special units to be set up to monitor vulnerable male inmates when they first arrive in local prisons.

She said: "I am still extremely concerned that last year, just like every year since 2000, at least two-thirds of suicides were in local prisons - the most overcrowded and hard-pressed.

"The uncertainty and fear people experience when they first go to a prison make them extremely vulnerable.

"Currently women's prisons have first night centres to reduce the distress experienced when people first go to a prison.

"I believe that these centres should be rolled out to all men's local prisons if the government is serious about preventing suicides in custody."

The prison population contains a high proportion of very vulnerable individuals and the likelihood of them harming themselves is increased Prison Service spokesman

She said there should be a dedicated wing or unit in every local prison, where all new prisoners would spend their first 48 hours in custody.

"With specialist staff, support and assistance from fellow prisoners, and contact with families and children, such first night centres could make a real contribution to saving lives," said Ms Crook.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "The prison population hit an all-time high during 2006 and contains a high proportion of very vulnerable individuals, many of whom have experienced such troubled lives that the likelihood of them harming themselves is increased.

"Many more lives are saved than lost. During 2006 prison staff are estimated to have resuscitated over 100 prisoners after serious self-harm incidents."