Prison's 'severe failings' over inmate's suicide

THE main prison serving Devon and Cornwall has been slammed in a report on the death of a prisoner who hanged himself in his cell despite being on suicide watch and expressing fears that he was at risk of violence from other inmates.

- by OLIVIER VERGNAULT

On September 7, 2021, during his second stint in jail, Ashley Wood was discovered hanging in his cell at HMP Exeter, even though the Prison Service had put suicide and self-harm support measures in place due to concerns that he might harm himself. He died in hospital two days later.

An inquest in February this year concluded he died by suicide.

However, a report from the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), written in March 2023 but published on Thursday, June 19, is highly critical of HMP Exeter.

In her report Kimberley Bingham, the acting PPO, said Wood, who was 26 and of no fixed abode, had been subject to Prison Service suicide and self-harm Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) support measures when he died.

"I have concerns that these measures were not managed appropriately, Mr Wood's escalating risk was not adequately assessed and there were severe failings in the recording and communication of information relevant to Mr Wood's risk," she wrote.

"I am also concerned that the risk Mr Wood perceived from others was not appropriately managed, nor were sufficient wellbeing checks carried out in line with HMP Exeter's policy."