Inquest verdict questions appropriateness of prison for vulnerable women
08/12/2006
The jury at the inquest into the death of Louise Davies at HMP New Hall in 2004 has returned a critical verdict questioning the appropriateness of prison for vulnerable women. Mark George represented the family at the inquest.
Louise Davies, aged 32, died in the segregation unit of the prison on 18 April 2004 whilst serving a sentence for arson, an offence related to an attempt to self harm. She had a long history of mental health problems and was a prolific self-harmer. At the time of her death she was the subject of the prison’s suicide watch procedures as she posed an immediate risk to herself. On the day of her death officers spoke to Louise after an apparent suicide note was found outside her cell door. Later at 7.21pm she was found unconscious with a ligature around her neck, but despite Louise’s condition prison staff did not raise the alarm immediately as they felt the situation was not an emergency. Louise never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 7.45pm.
The inquest heard how Louise had been deemed ‘untreatable’ and therefore could not be sectioned under the present Mental Health Act. As a result the jury recognised that “there was no other option…but [for Louise] to go to prison”. The judge in the criminal case said Louise should be sent to prison where he believed that she could receive “constant supervision and monitoring”.
The inquest heard evidence from a variety of sources, including prison officers, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and a psychiatrist all of whom agreed that prison was an entirely inappropriate location for someone of Louise’s vulnerability. The Court heard extracts from the report of HMCIP in her 2004 report on New Hall that called for “alternatives therapeutic environments” for women such as Louise “where appropriate treatment and support can be offered” rather than punishment. The jury in their narrative verdict also agreed that prison was “unsuitable for someone with Louise’s problems”.
It is very encouraging that the Coroner was prepared to consider the wider issue of the suitability of prison itself for women with serious mental health problems and that the jury in their verdict expressed their view on this important matter.
There is currently a high level review being undertaken by Baroness Corston into the issue of women in custody. It is clear from Louise’s case as well as other similar cases that urgent action is required to ensure that vulnerable women are not sent to prison simply because of the lack of a suitable alternative and that alternative secure accommodation is required where such women can receive the constant care, supervision and monitoring that they require.
The family were represented at the inquest by barrister Mark George from Garden Court North Chambers, Manchester, instructed by INQUEST Lawyer’s Group member Fiona Borrill of Lester Morrill Solicitors , Leeds.
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> 24/11/06 Inquest into the death of Louise Davies opens at HMP New Hall.
