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Prisoners (Death)

Volume 959: debated on Friday 1 December 1978

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have died in custody so far in 1978; what was the age and offence of each; when they died; and what was the cause of death.

The deaths of 47 male and four female prisoners have been reported by prison department establishments this year to date. Four died in January, four in February, five in March, seven in April, four in May, five in June, 10 in July, five in August, four in September, one in October, and

AgeOffenceCause of death
1.28BurglaryNatural causes: acute cardiac failure
2.23MurderSuicide: strangulation due to self-suspension
3.37WoundingSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
4.21Burglary, theftNatural causes: rare blood disease
5.38Drug offencesSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
6.36Burglary, robberyNatural causes: acute bronchopneumonia
7.31Grievous bodily harmSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
8.71TheftNatural causes: acute bronchopneumonia
9.65ArsonNatural causes: chronic bronchitis and emphysema
10.61Indecent assaultNatural causes: coronary thrombosis
11.54FraudNatural causes: renal, cerebral and myocardial infarction
12.25MurderSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
13.56TheftNatural causes: coronary thrombosis
14.39Burglary, criminal damageNatural causes: coronary artery atheroma
15.25RobberySuicide: asphyxia by hanging
16.58FraudNatural causes: septicaemia, hepatitis
17.18TheftNatural causes: acute congestive cardiac failure
18.41BurglaryNatural causes: respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism
19.27AssaultNatural causes:myocardial degeneration infective hydated cysts
20.23Drug offencesAccidental death: asphyxia
21.28FraudNatural causes: status elepticus
22.33MurderSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
23.28Grievous bodily harmSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
24.66Threatening behaviourOpen verdict: brain damage
25.72Threatening behaviourNatural causes: heart failure
26.43WoundingNatural causes: haemopericardium ruptured infarct
27.33ManslaughterSuicide: haemorrhage (throat wounds)
28.27TheftNatural causes: coronary thrombosis
29.61TheftNatural causes: coronary thrombosis
30.40WoundingNatural causes: death after operation for cancer
31.51Wandering abroadNatural causes: coronary occlusion
32.17Indecent assaultKilled by fellow inmates
33.39TheftNatural causes: pulmonary oedema, leukaemia
34.48MurderNatural causes: coronary occlusion
35.66BuggeryMisadventure: bronchopneumonia
36.62Indecent assaultNatural causes: coronary thrombosis
37.42TheftNatural causes: aortic and mitral insufficiency
38.56TheftNatural causes: bronchopneumonia
39.28TheftSuicide: asphyxia by hanging
40.34Criminal damageSuicide: asphyxia by hanging