(2) how many safer cells there are at Chelmsford Prison; how many were installed in each of the last 10 years; and how many are planned to be installed in 2008;
(3) how many of those who committed suicide at Chelmsford Prison in the last 10 years were accommodated in safer cells.
The number of self-inflicted deaths at Chelmsford prison in each of the last 10 years, and to 4 March 2008, is provided in the following table:
Self-inflicted deaths 1998 2 1999 1 2000 1 2001 1 2002 1 2003 0 2004 0 2005 1 2006 1 2007 3 20081 3 1 Year to date Note: The Prison Service/NOMS definition of self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available.
Of the 138 safer cells installed at Chelmsford prison (some of the older of which are on the maintenance database for refurbishment), 12 were installed in 1996 and 126 in 2006. There are no plans to install additional safer cells at Chelmsford prison during 2008.
None of the self-inflicted deaths at Chelmsford Prison since 1998 have occurred in safer cells.