Calls for better prison suicide prevention strategy after delays
The Scottish Lib Dems say ministers are "moving at a snail's pace"
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for refreshed prison suicide prevention plans to be published, after nearly a year of delays.
The last plan, ‘Talk to Me’ expired at the end of 2021, however a fresh document is yet to be put in place.
The new strategy was set to be published in spring last year, before being pushed to October, but is yet to be implemented.
MSP Liam McArthur accused ministers of “moving at a snail’s pace” on the issue, adding the current strategy “also leaves in place policies that experts at Glasgow University say actually worsened prisoner wellbeing.”
"Snail's pace"
A report by the university found there had been a record number of deaths in Scotland’s prisons between 2020 and 2022, with 29 of the 121 recorded as being suicide.
It also found an increase of 42% in the number of deaths by suicide between the strategy being introduced in 2016 and 2022, with a rise from 45 in the previous six year period to 64.
A response to a parliamentary question from Mr McArthur showed the first stage has been completed by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), which includes a "literature review, user voice interviews, staff focus groups, an NHS survey and a workshop for families".
He said: “835 days is an unacceptably long time for prisoners, guards and families to wait for action,” adding: “for too long, the SNP have presided over a self-harm epidemic behind the gates and walls of Scotland's prisons."
"Delay after delay"
The Lib Dem justice spokesman pointed to the cases of Katie Allan and William Brown, two young people who took their own lives while in Scotland's prisons despite having been evaluated under the strategy, describing the cases as "tragic".
The deaths of both are now subject to a fatal accident inquiry.
"It is delay after delay, distraction after distraction with this government, and people are now paying the price with their lives," he added.
"Scottish Liberal Democrats have long campaigned to make our prisons humane and productive places.
"To save lives and restore faith in the system, ministers must accelerate progress on this strategy, ensure it contains proper checks and balances and roll out mental health professionals across the prison estate."
People "paying the price with their lives"
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "The mental and physical health and wellbeing of those in our care is a key priority.
"The first stage of the review of Talk to Me, our suicide prevention strategy, has been completed.
"This has taken into account the views of our staff, those in our care and their families, as well as external experts.
"We have also implemented many of the recommendations made by the Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody.
"This has included dedicated phone lines which have been introduced in every prison, giving families a direct route to raise mental health concerns about their loved one, and in turn improve our ability to identify people at risk."
"Key priority"
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Every suicide is an enormous tragedy and leaves devastating and long-lasting impacts.
"The safe treatment and mental health of all those in custody is a key priority for this Government and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), which care for people with higher levels of risk and vulnerability than the general population as a whole.
"The SPS suicide prevention strategy Talk to Me is in use across the prison estate. The first stage of the review of the strategy has been completed, with work ongoing.
"In 2023/24 we committed £2.5 million to suicide prevention, and we are on track to achieving our commitment to double this annual funding to £2.8 million by 2026."