As a society suicides are something that we should always seek to prevent whether that is by removing the means for committing suicide or simply providing better mental healthcare. Sadly it will never likely be possible to reduce the number to zero but that should be the aim amongst the prison population where inmates are totally dependent on the state for their wellbeing and ought to be carefully monitored.

Instead rates of self-harm amongst prisoners have almost doubled since 2015. On average one inmate ends their own life every five days.

The numbers speak for themselves but in order to understand why this is happening and how the trend can be corrected it is necessary to examine the most recent report written by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

The Committee identify a number of areas for improvement recommending, amongst other things:

• greater investment
• more diligent monitoring
• effective management within prisons
• Anti-violence interventions
• More staff
• Better training for staff
• Accountability procedures

To put it more simply the situation is dire. If a society is measured by how well it looks after its most vulnerable then the UK is failing.

To compound things, these issues were raised before COVID-19 hit the UK’s shores. The most recent figures are not due out for another few months but it would be a safe bet that the global pandemic has not improved matters. Instead the necessity of isolating inmates from the coronavirus is likely to have a further negative impact on the mental health of prisoners.

In the aftermath of the pandemic when the UK begins to assess its response it will be vital that the effect on prisoners is examined in detail. Although the problems in the system are longstanding the present crisis will present an excellent opportunity for reform that the Home Office should not pass up on.