Inquiry into custody death

Prison officers had not placed David Cooper on suicide watch

An investigation has been launched into the death of a man on remand at a south Wales prison.

David Cooper, 29, was found hanged in his cell at Swansea Prison at around 1330 BST Friday.

This is the first self inflicted death in Swansea Prison since 1997

Home Office spokesperson

Mr Cooper, who was also known as Peter, was the 40th person this year to have died whilst in police custody across the UK.

The Home Office have said that he was not on suicide watch because he had not shown any suicidal tendencies.

Mr Cooper, who was from the Swansea area, had been in the prison for around 12 days.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "A prisoner on remand was found hanged in his cell at 1.30pm on Friday.

"Staff attempted resuscitation but unfortunately were unsuccessful.

"This is the first self inflicted death in Swansea Prison since 1997."

Record defended

Swansea is a local prison which does not have a traditional security classification but takes prisoners dealt with by courts in the area.

Mr Cooper's next of kin have been told of his death and an internal Prison Service investigation has been launched.

The coroner has also been informed.

Meanwhile the Home Office has defended the Prison Service's current record of custody deaths.

At this time last year there had been 54 deaths in custody which is around 30% more than the numbers so far this year.

The Home Office claims that the statistics prove the government's suicide prevention strategy has been a success.