Latest news with #selfharm
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Insufficient progress' made on drugs at Earlstoke Prison
A report into a category C men's prison has found that drugs remain easily available, with almost a third of inmates recording positive readings during random drug Erlestoke, in Wiltshire, was inspected over three days in April, following up on concerns raised about "safety", "respect" and "purposeful activity" during the previous inspection in chief inspector of prisons said good progress was being made in one out of the nine areas of concern, with reasonable progress being made in five.A Prison Service spokesperson said they are pleased improvements have been recognised, adding "more needs to be done". Three areas were found to have demonstrated insufficient report found that no improvement had been made in relation to prisoners' access to drugs, with the rate of positive random drug tests remaining at 32%.It also found that there had been 426 emergency medical calls in the previous six months for prisoners suspected of being under the influence of a prohibited substance."Insufficient progress" was also made in improving the first night cells and preventing report said that despite a reduction "there was still no action plan to address the high levels of self-harm and to prevent future self-inflicted deaths."Support for prisoners who needed help with reading was also found to be lacking. Drop in violence Improvements were found to have been made with "overall levels of violence now lower than in similar prisons" and work had been done to address antisocial behaviour and reduce the use of report found levels of violence had reduced by 25% since the 2024 inspection, including the number of serious number of incidents of use of force had also decreased during the same period. It further noted that "positive steps had been taken to address negative perceptions of treatment among prisoners from ethnic minority backgrounds."The Prison Service spokesperson said: "We are pleased inspectors have recognised improvements in tackling violence and antisocial behaviour at HMP Erlestoke."But we know more needs to be done, which is why we are working with police to keep drugs out of the prison and supporting prisoners with substance misuse addiction through our drug recovery wing."
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Rise in number of self-harm cases at Hull Prison, report finds
Incidents of self-harm have increased at HMP Hull, according to a report by the prisons inspectorate.A review in April measured progress at the jail since inspections in 2021 and Inspectorate of Prisons had previously found that prison bosses were not using data effectively to reduce violence or self-harm, but the latest report concluded that "reasonable progress" had been made to understand the causes of the problem, despite the rise in Ministry of Justice said it was addressing the concerns raised in the report. Previous inspections had identified a number of concerns, including inmates being locked up for more than 22 hours a day and a lack of involvement in meaningful activities or attending education inspectorate had also cited an increase in positive drug tests and "too many" prisoners being released with no homes to go recent follow-up visit found that "concerns had been taken seriously" and staff were working hard to improve the Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said the availability of drugs remained a "significant concern" and a threat to safety and said leaders were now using a drug strategy that focused on recovery and good support. Cells remained 'cramped' He also said the prison remained overcrowded, with cramped cells, and while there had been work to improve inmates not ending up homeless on their release from prison, the number of those released without homes to go to had not yet conclusion, Mr Taylor said: "Leaders were committed to driving improvement at Hull and this independent review of progress indicated that their hard work was paying off in many important areas."HMP Hull houses about 900 remanded or newly-convicted men and vulnerable prisoners.A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "While we have seen notable improvements since the last inspection, we fully acknowledge the challenges that remain at HMP Hull."The spokesperson added that efforts were being made to address the concerns that had been raised, including training staff to reduce the risk of self-harm and bringing in reforms to reduce pressure on prisons. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Cycling champion Bradley Wiggins says he was a cocaine addict and is 'lucky' to be alive
Former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has revealed he became addicted to cocaine after retiring from cycling. In an interview with British newspaper The Observer, the five-time Olympic gold medalist said he is "lucky" to be alive. "There were times my son thought I was going to be found dead in the morning," the 45-year-old Wiggins said. "I was a functioning addict. People wouldn't realize. I was high for most of the time for years." The British cyclist was a gold medalist in four straight Olympics from 2004 and won the Tour in 2012. He retired in 2016. In 2022, he made an allegation in an interview with Men's Health UK magazine that he was sexually groomed by a coach, whose name he did not reveal, when he was 13 years old. In a soon-to-be-published autobiograph, The Chain, Wiggins detailed how his life spiraled into a cycle of debt and addiction after retirement from the sport. Wiggins told the Observer his cocaine addiction became a "really bad problem" and he was "walking a tightrope." He quit his addiction a year ago, the newspaper said. "I already had a lot of self-hatred, but I was amplifying it," he said. "It was a form of self-harm and self-sabotage. It was not the person I wanted to be. I realized I was hurting a lot of people around me."
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Anyone who assists self-harm could face five-year jail term under new plan
Anyone who assists someone to self-harm could face up to five years in prison under plans for a new offence. Ministers are seeking to broaden the law to criminalise those who encourage or assist self-harm online or in person, as part of the Crime and Policing Bill. The move would mean anyone who intends to cause serious self-harm could be prosecuted, even if that did not lead to any injuries. Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the prevalence of serious self-harm, especially in young people, is 'hugely concerning'. 'It is an awful truth that some people encourage or assist such behaviour, and one I wanted to draw attention to during Mental Health Awareness Week. 'Whether encouragement is by communication, or more directly by assistance, the outcome is the same. 'We are determined that anybody intending to see others harm themselves is stopped and dealt with in the strongest way.' Under the Online Safety Act 2023, it is already illegal to encourage or assist suicide or self-harm through content online. But the change to the law seeks to replace the existing offence to cover all ways self-harm could be aided. It is understood that the new legislation will not criminalise anyone who did not have the intention to cause harm, such as by sharing experiences of self-harm or discussing the issue. Guidance on self-harm suggests it can occur at any age, but there is evidence of a 'recent increase' in prevalence among young people in England, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2022. Papyrus operates a 24/7 service and specialises in supporting children and their mental health. HOPELINE247 is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Assisting self-harm could result in five-year jail term under proposed offence
Anyone who assists someone to self-harm – such as by giving them a blade or pills – could face up to five years in prison under plans for a new offence. Ministers are seeking to broaden the law to criminalise those who encourage or assist self-harm online or in person, as part of the Crime and Policing Bill. The move would mean anyone who intend to cause serious self-harm could be prosecuted, even if that did not lead to any injuries. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said: 'The prevalence of serious self-harm, especially in young people, is hugely concerning. 'It is an awful truth that some people encourage or assist such behaviour, and one I wanted to draw attention to during Mental Health Awareness Week. 'Whether encouragement is by communication, or more directly by assistance, the outcome is the same. 'We are determined that anybody intending to see others harm themselves is stopped and dealt with in the strongest way.' Under the Online Safety Act 2023, it is already illegal to encourage or assist suicide or self-harm through content online. But the change to the law seeks to replace the existing offence to cover all ways self-harm could be aided. It is understood the new legislation will not criminalise anyone who did not have the intention to cause harm, such as by sharing experiences of self-harm or discussing the issue. Guidance on self-harm suggests it can occur at any age but there is evidence of a 'recent increase' in prevalence among young people in England, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2022. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, which was set up in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell who took her own life after viewing thousands of images promoting suicide and self-harm, welcomed the extension of self-harm laws. But he said it 'will not stop the threat posed by those who seek to cause harm online by itself'. He added: 'There is an increasing risk posed by groups and individuals who encourage self-harm online, coercing often young women and girls into self-harm in private messaging and livestreams. 'The reality is that Ofcom's regulation of tech companies is failing to disrupt the encouragement of self-harm online and the Government must step in with stronger online safety laws that can tackle this growing and urgent threat.' Ofcom set out new online safety rules to protect children from harmful content in April, saying the measures will be 'transformational' and force tech firms to do things differently.
