The independent investigation conducted by Rob Allen into the life-threatening attempted suicide of AB at HMP Bedford on 24 June 2008 is published. Also published is The National Offender Management Service response to the investigation.
AB was remanded into custody at HMP Bedford on 5 June 2008. Later that day he was discovered hanging in a holding room in the prison’s reception. Nursing staff administered oxygen and he was taken to HMP Bedford’s health care centre.
AB hanged himself again on 24 June 2008 whilst subject to Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (the care planning system for prisoner’s identified as at risk of suicide and/or self-harm). He was successfully resuscitated and removed to hospital. He briefly returned to HMP Bedford before being transferred to a hospital setting where he currently
resides.
A Prison Service investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident was carried out by a prison governor in 2008, which made a number of findings and recommendations about AB’s care whilst at HMP Bedford.
However in order to meet the State’s investigative obligation under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights the NOMS commissioned Rob Allen, former Director of the International Centre for Prison studies, to conduct an independent investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding AB’s life-threatening attempted suicide on 24 June 2008 and to see whether there are lessons to be learned that might contribute to the care of prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm.
The investigation report completed by Rob Allen is published, along with the NOMS response to Rob Allen’s investigation.