Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

Chapter 23:
WHAT HAS CHANGED AT MANCHESTER PRISON
Introduction
23.1 The Inquiry undertook to examine how the care of prisoners at risk of suicide
and/or self-harm has changed at Manchester prison since Sonny Lodge’s death.
23.2 The inquiry was asked to identify any deficiencies in the care afforded to Mr Lodge
by the Prison Service that may have had an influence on his death and to help prevent
such tragedies in future. It would not have served the second part of the inquiry’s remit
simply to examine Sonny Lodge’s care in the context of policies a decade ago without
regard to what the Prison Service has learned since then and the new policies that now
apply. The inquiry therefore obtained evidence about changes to the relevant policies
and practices since 1998, in the Prison Service generally and specifically at Manchester
prison.
Evidence to the inquest
23.3 A former governing Governor of Manchester prison gave oral evidence at the
inquest in July 2001 about changes to the prison in response to the Prison Service
investigation into the circumstances of Sonny Lodge’s death. The Treasury Solicitor’s
summary states that, among other things, the Governor gave evidence that:
the wing-based disciplinary system had been abolished
all staff had been trained in suicide prevention procedures
adjudicating governors were to be informed of any recent history of a prisoner
being subject to F2052SH procedures
it was established policy not to hold such prisoners in the Segregation Unit
except in carefully considered exceptional cases
a full-time Suicide Prevention Coordinator had been appointed to audit current
practice and to initiate development of more effective practices across the prison
all major wings had televisions in cells.
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