The National Offender Management Service has a broad based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy that seeks to reduce the distress of all those in prison. This requires identifying prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm. Reducing access to potential means of suicide or self-harm at all prisons, including New Hall, forms part of the care of people considered to be at risk. This includes, where necessary, the removal of any personal possessions and furniture in cells which may be used in an act of self-harm.
In addition, most prisons contain safer cells, which are designed to make the act of suicide or self-harm by use of ligature difficult. This is achieved primarily by reducing ligature points as far as possible. Anti-ligature furniture and fittings are installed as an integral part of the cell fabric.
However, there are a wide range of objects in cell which may be used as ligature points (such as clothing, essential furniture, washing facilities, etc.) which it is not possible to remove for decency reasons.
The National Offender Management Service has a broad based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy that seeks to reduce the distress of all those in prison. This requires identifying prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm. Reducing access to potential means of suicide or self-harm at all prisons, including HMP The Mount, forms part of the care of people considered to be at risk.
Potential ligature points in the shower units in cells at HMP The Mount have been negated by the installation of UPVC panels. In more recent accommodation of a similar type in other prisons, velcro curtains have been fitted to a collapsible rail in shower units.
Decisions whether or not to redesign shower cubicles, are taken locally by individual governors. A central record is not held of prisons which have had this type of modification and these details can be obtained only by contacting each individual establishment at disproportionate cost.