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Mr. Kilroy-Silk
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.
Dr. Summerskill
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
Age | Offence | Cause of death | |
1. | 28 | Burglary | Natural causes: acute cardiac failure |
2. | 23 | Murder | Suicide: strangulation due to self-suspension |
3. | 37 | Wounding | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
4. | 21 | Burglary, theft | Natural causes: rare blood disease |
5. | 38 | Drug offences | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
6. | 36 | Burglary, robbery | Natural causes: acute bronchopneumonia |
7. | 31 | Grievous bodily harm | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
8. | 71 | Theft | Natural causes: acute bronchopneumonia |
9. | 65 | Arson | Natural causes: chronic bronchitis and emphysema |
10. | 61 | Indecent assault | Natural causes: coronary thrombosis |
11. | 54 | Fraud | Natural causes: renal, cerebral and myocardial infarction |
12. | 25 | Murder | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
13. | 56 | Theft | Natural causes: coronary thrombosis |
14. | 39 | Burglary, criminal damage | Natural causes: coronary artery atheroma |
15. | 25 | Robbery | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
16. | 58 | Fraud | Natural causes: septicaemia, hepatitis |
17. | 18 | Theft | Natural causes: acute congestive cardiac failure |
18. | 41 | Burglary | Natural causes: respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism |
19. | 27 | Assault | Natural causes:myocardial degeneration infective hydated cysts |
20. | 23 | Drug offences | Accidental death: asphyxia |
21. | 28 | Fraud | Natural causes: status elepticus |
22. | 33 | Murder | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
23. | 28 | Grievous bodily harm | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
24. | 66 | Threatening behaviour | Open verdict: brain damage |
25. | 72 | Threatening behaviour | Natural causes: heart failure |
26. | 43 | Wounding | Natural causes: haemopericardium ruptured infarct |
27. | 33 | Manslaughter | Suicide: haemorrhage (throat wounds) |
28. | 27 | Theft | Natural causes: coronary thrombosis |
29. | 61 | Theft | Natural causes: coronary thrombosis |
30. | 40 | Wounding | Natural causes: death after operation for cancer |
31. | 51 | Wandering abroad | Natural causes: coronary occlusion |
32. | 17 | Indecent assault | Killed by fellow inmates |
33. | 39 | Theft | Natural causes: pulmonary oedema, leukaemia |
34. | 48 | Murder | Natural causes: coronary occlusion |
35. | 66 | Buggery | Misadventure: bronchopneumonia |
36. | 62 | Indecent assault | Natural causes: coronary thrombosis |
37. | 42 | Theft | Natural causes: aortic and mitral insufficiency |
38. | 56 | Theft | Natural causes: bronchopneumonia |
39. | 28 | Theft | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |
40. | 34 | Criminal damage | Suicide: asphyxia by hanging |