Week Nineteen - Child Deaths in Custody Flashcards
Gareth Myatt..
15 years old Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre, 2004 12-month sentence for assault and theft 4”10, 6 ½ stone ‘Positional asphyxia’
Adam Rickwood
14 years old Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, 2004 Youngest child to die in custody Remand (not convicted) 150 miles from his home town Hanged himself following ‘restraint’
Deaths in Custody since 1990…
33 children have died in custody since 1990
2012..
Two children died in two days in January 2012
Alex Kelly…
15 years old
HMYOI Cookham Wood,2012
Found hanging in his cell
In October 2014, HM Inspectorate of Prisons published a highly critical report following and inspection of Cookham Wood which raised concerns regarding the safety of child prisoners and the impact of staffing cuts on regimes and conditions in the prison.
It is hoped that the inquest will address, amongst others, the following issues:
Whether the placement of 15 year old Alex into a prison was appropriate.
Whether Alex’s specific vulnerabilities and needs were appropriately identified and addressed by the prison.
Whether the assessments of Alex’s risk of self harm or suicide were adequate.
Whether Alex was provided with adequate support by Social Services as a looked after child.
The adequacy of the prison’s emergency response procedures.
Nick Popat, Alex’s father said:
“Alex was a loving, caring vulnerable 15-year-old child. I do not understand why he was sent to prison given his age and vulnerabilities. I hope the inquest will finally give me some answers to help me find some peace. ”
Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST said:
“What can be more shocking than the death of a child while in the care of the state. This inquest must ensure the most robust scrutiny of why such a vulnerable child was ever imprisoned in the first place.”
