Coroner fears of future deaths in prison went unanswered by government officials
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The Ministry of Justice has apologised after a string of warnings from coroners about deaths in prison went unanswered, including after two at a troubled London jail. Concerns were officially raised about mental health treatment for inmates, staff training in first aid, and the assistance for prisoners once they are set free from custody.
But new data shows that in 2024, 12 reports from Coroners – known as Prevention of Future Deaths reports - were not responded to by justice officials. Coroner’s reports typically raise concerns which have emerged during an inquest, suggesting problems that need tackling and calling for a written response from those in authority within 56 days.
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“We take Prevention of Future Deaths reports very seriously”, said a spokesperson for the Prisons and Probation Service, an executive agency of the MoJ. “These reports often contain complex issues and we apologise to the families of those involved for our delayed response.”.
Wandsworth Prison was put into special measures last year after a string of scandals, including the breakout of Daniel Khalife. An audit revealed rampant drug use, poor living conditions, and deep concerns about staffing levels and training. This month, a Wandsworth guard - Linda De Sousa Abreu - was jailed for having sex with an inmate inside a prison cell, while another prisoner smoked cannabis and filmed the encounter.
