A report into the death of an inmate at The Mount Prison in Bovingdon revealed officers failed to call the correct emergency code after discovering an inmate had died.
This marks the third report in three months to conclude staff did not follow the correct procedure. The Prison and Probation Ombudsman had previously made recommendations about the use of medical emergency codes following two similar deaths.
Dale Samm, 28, was found dead in his cell two years ago just weeks after entering the facility. He had been jailed for two months and 23 days for property damage and carrying a knife.
Acting Prisons Ombudsman Kimberly Bingham shared that on September 25, 2022, an officer had seen Samm “slumped” between his bed and cell window during a routine check.
Though the officer had called for help, she did not radio an emergency code until a second officer arrived.
When officers entered the cell, Samm was dead. An inquest found that he had taken his own life.
While the report is “satisfied that staff could not have foreseen his death”, it found “delays with the emergency response”.
They also found that Samm had not been allocated a key worker, who may have identified that he was struggling.
A Prisons Service spokesperson shared with the BBC: “We have accepted all the report’s recommendations and have reminded staff at HMP The Mount of their responsibilities during a medical emergency.”
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