Wyndham Thomas
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2023-0547
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 15 Feb 2024
Sent To
Response Status
Responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
15 Feb 2024
All responses received
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Coroner’s Concerns
1. There is a lack of local and national system of in-cell ligature point risk assessments, and no ligature point maps available to staff. The Prison Staff caring for Wyndham were not aware of the location of known ligature points within the cell. This meant that suspicion was not drawn when Wyndham was seen positioned in an area which had access to a ligature point.
2. There is no mandatory requirement for a HMP Prison to have access to a Safer Cell (one with reduced ligature points).
HMP Nottingham does not have designated Safer Cells, including on the Care and Support Unit, where prisoners posing a high risk of harm by ligation may be sent for their own safety.
The above matters represent missed opportunities to seek to reduce the risk of self-harm and death by ligature asphyxiation, which is one of the most prevalent mechanisms of self-harm and self-inflicted death across the prison estate. While the above measures will not eliminate risk entirely, any reduction in opportunity to ligate may save lives.
2. There is no mandatory requirement for a HMP Prison to have access to a Safer Cell (one with reduced ligature points).
HMP Nottingham does not have designated Safer Cells, including on the Care and Support Unit, where prisoners posing a high risk of harm by ligation may be sent for their own safety.
The above matters represent missed opportunities to seek to reduce the risk of self-harm and death by ligature asphyxiation, which is one of the most prevalent mechanisms of self-harm and self-inflicted death across the prison estate. While the above measures will not eliminate risk entirely, any reduction in opportunity to ligate may save lives.
Responses
HM Prison and Probation Service has implemented a revised ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody, Teamwork) case management approach across the prison estate. They have also undertaken a review of ligature-resistant cells, with new prisons built to standard and some older cells already being converted, though mandating them in every prison is not currently possible.
AI summary
View full response
Dear Miss Bower,
Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 21 December 2023, addressed to the Minister for Prisons and Probation. I am responding on behalf of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) as Director General of Operations.
I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr Thomas’ family, and I would first like to express my condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority.
You have expressed concerns regarding both the local and national system of in-cell ligature point risk assessments and for prisons to have access to safer cells.
We recognise that prisoners may feel vulnerable during their time in custody and HMPPS uses the Assessment, Care in Custody, Teamwork (ACCT) case management approach to support people at risk of self-harm and suicide. As part of any case review, those present will consider a range of measures to mitigate risk, including the prisoner’s location and whether any possessions need to be removed or returned, and this may include moving the prisoner to a cell that is more appropriate to manage their risk. While HMP Nottingham does not have a ligature-resistant cell, there are four gated cells which can be used if the prisoner’s risk has escalated to a degree that warrants their observation levels being raised to constant supervision.
At a national level, HMPPS has undertaken a review of ligature-resistant cells, which have been designed to eliminate ligature points as far as possible. The review included their build standards and how they are used to support prisoners in crisis. Our aim is to ensure that cells that are fitted with ligature-resistant features are available as an option for staff managing prisoners in crisis, and that they retain those features in full working order and do not deviate from the standard over time. All new prisons and major additions, such as new wings, are usually built without ligature points in cells. For older prisons, HMPPS has begun to convert a number of cells to the same standard. Due to the high costs associated with this renovation work, priority is being given to
those prisons who have had a recent prevalence of self-inflicted deaths. As such, it is not possible at this stage to mandate the introduction of ligature-resistant cells in every prison.
With regards to your concerns pertaining to in-cell ligature point risk assessments and the availability of ligature point maps, we expect staff to be aware of the potential for a prisoner to be equally at risk of ligaturing at any position in the cell, as well as to the possibility that a ligature point may not be used in all circumstances that require immediate action to preserve life. Prisoners assessed as high risk of suicide should either have their observation level increased or they should be relocated into a gated cell, if doing so would not be detrimental to the prisoner’s welfare.
Since Mr Thomas’ death, HMPPS has implemented a revised version of the ACCT case management approach across the prison estate, which has been designed to improve the support given to prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide and to assist them in making positive, long-term changes to lower their risk in the future. In conjunction to this, we are developing a safety training package for staff which will improve understanding of suicide and self-harm prevention, which will be delivered to all new members of staff who have prisoner contact.
Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address this matter.
Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 21 December 2023, addressed to the Minister for Prisons and Probation. I am responding on behalf of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) as Director General of Operations.
I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr Thomas’ family, and I would first like to express my condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority.
You have expressed concerns regarding both the local and national system of in-cell ligature point risk assessments and for prisons to have access to safer cells.
We recognise that prisoners may feel vulnerable during their time in custody and HMPPS uses the Assessment, Care in Custody, Teamwork (ACCT) case management approach to support people at risk of self-harm and suicide. As part of any case review, those present will consider a range of measures to mitigate risk, including the prisoner’s location and whether any possessions need to be removed or returned, and this may include moving the prisoner to a cell that is more appropriate to manage their risk. While HMP Nottingham does not have a ligature-resistant cell, there are four gated cells which can be used if the prisoner’s risk has escalated to a degree that warrants their observation levels being raised to constant supervision.
At a national level, HMPPS has undertaken a review of ligature-resistant cells, which have been designed to eliminate ligature points as far as possible. The review included their build standards and how they are used to support prisoners in crisis. Our aim is to ensure that cells that are fitted with ligature-resistant features are available as an option for staff managing prisoners in crisis, and that they retain those features in full working order and do not deviate from the standard over time. All new prisons and major additions, such as new wings, are usually built without ligature points in cells. For older prisons, HMPPS has begun to convert a number of cells to the same standard. Due to the high costs associated with this renovation work, priority is being given to
those prisons who have had a recent prevalence of self-inflicted deaths. As such, it is not possible at this stage to mandate the introduction of ligature-resistant cells in every prison.
With regards to your concerns pertaining to in-cell ligature point risk assessments and the availability of ligature point maps, we expect staff to be aware of the potential for a prisoner to be equally at risk of ligaturing at any position in the cell, as well as to the possibility that a ligature point may not be used in all circumstances that require immediate action to preserve life. Prisoners assessed as high risk of suicide should either have their observation level increased or they should be relocated into a gated cell, if doing so would not be detrimental to the prisoner’s welfare.
Since Mr Thomas’ death, HMPPS has implemented a revised version of the ACCT case management approach across the prison estate, which has been designed to improve the support given to prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide and to assist them in making positive, long-term changes to lower their risk in the future. In conjunction to this, we are developing a safety training package for staff which will improve understanding of suicide and self-harm prevention, which will be delivered to all new members of staff who have prisoner contact.
Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address this matter.
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
Wyndham Richard Thomas died on 6 November 2018, at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. He was a serving prisoner. A coronial inquest into his death was opened on 29 November 2018.
An inquest before a jury was resumed on 22 May 2022 but the jury were discharged due to a serious irregularity.
The inquest was re-listed before the next available court and resumed before a jury on 30 January 2023, concluding on 10 February 2023.
An inquest before a jury was resumed on 22 May 2022 but the jury were discharged due to a serious irregularity.
The inquest was re-listed before the next available court and resumed before a jury on 30 January 2023, concluding on 10 February 2023.
Circumstances of the Death
The following represents the findings of fact returned by the jury:
Wyndham Richard Thomas was a prisoner transferred to HMP Nottingham on 29th of October 2018. He had been at HMP Nottingham previously (July – October 2018). Wyndham was serving a life sentence, with a minimum tariff of 10 years which commenced on 9th of April 1998. He ligated and was found unconscious in his cell at 18:04 on 4th of November 2018. He had moved prisons a great deal – 13 prisons in the previous 3 years and had transferred from HMP Norwich. This had made it difficult for his family (based in South Wales) to maintain contact. He had been managed on ACCTs many times – 25 ACCTs between 2016 and 2018. Wyndham had also been prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. He began self-harming in 2016 and first ligated on 3rd of October 2016, because of a lack of tobacco. On arrival at HMP Nottingham on 29th of October 2018 he went onto F Wing. During the safer custody interview several triggers were added to his ACCT plan. These were:
- That he managed his self-harm
- That he had a parole decision coming up on the 31st of October which was a cause of stress for Wyndham (parole was refused on the 31st of October)
- That he had taken (and so was referred to the substance misuse team)
- News about his daughter’s which coincided with the anniversary of his sister’s .
- That he had issues with going onto B wing because of drugs related issues. Wyndham remained on F Wing until 2nd of November and when an officer tried to relocate him from F to B wing Wyndham struck him. At this point (1.30 pm) he was forcibly removed and placed in the segregation unit. An ACCT case review followed at 15:10 during which his healthcare safety segregation paperwork was signed. The Governor's Defensible Decision to Segregate a prisoner on an open ACCT was completed. Wyndham did not receive an assessment of his mental health within 24 hours of segregation. There were no certified safer cells to house Wyndham in, even if they had referred to his history of ligation. No care map was produced, and Wyndham was tasked by the Governor chairing the meeting with writing his goals over the weekend. Wyndham’s level of risk was increased from ‘low’ to ‘raised’ but his observation was reduced to every 2 hours. There were no measures put in place to reduce his risk of self-harm as there had been no meaningful risk assessment carried out. An officer collected Wyndham’s last from his cell on F wing at 17:30. Wyndham had been asking for access to and had been refused by the Governor in the afternoon. On Saturday 3rd of November, from early in the morning, Wyndham was pressing the cell bell regularly to request more . He made a number of demands, one of which was a listener. This was refused and Wyndham rejected the Samaritans phone that was offered. It was a source of ongoing frustration between prison officers and Wyndham. He was ‘up and down’, becoming verbally aggressive in response to repeated refusals. At 15:30 the Governor carried out his daily review of Wyndham’s continuing segregation. Wyndham moved cells in the afternoon. At approximately 18:30 Wyndham showed his escalating frustration by banging his head against the cell window and door. Self-harm, using was inflicted on Wyndham’s left forearm on the site of an earlier wound and the ACCT book was updated at 19:00. Healthcare was called but Wyndham refused treatment and a dressing was passed under the door. As staff were relying on Wyndham’s presentation and were unaware of any risk relevant information, no further action was taken and there was no review of Wyndham’s ACCT following this self-harm incident. Had the records been consulted at this point the risks would have been apparent. Wyndham was seen the following morning – on Sunday 4th – by a healthcare nurse and around 9:30am the Governor's daily review was carried out, at which point were again refused. Wyndham made repeated use of the cell bell in the morning to request . Wyndham was continuing to request vapes and being refused. A radio was provided around 17:00 as a distraction. He was still verbally abusive when his cell bell was answered at 17:45. An officer checked on Wyndham at 17:54 and observed Wyndham for 17 seconds before walking away. Wyndham was standing between the sink and the cell door, almost out of view. He was standing up and breathing although there was no verbal interaction. The officer returned at 18:04, realised that something was amiss and radioed for assistance. He could see the top of Wyndham’s head below the observation panel against the door and a ligature running down the side of the observation panel. 3 officers entered the cell at 18:06 and cut the ligature,
. An officer and nurse commenced CPR and a second nurse arrived with the emergency bag at 18:07. A code blue was called but it is not conclusive at what time precisely. Wyndham was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at QMC, at approximately 18:45. On the 6th of November 16:40 Wyndham was pronounced dead.
Wyndham Richard Thomas was a prisoner transferred to HMP Nottingham on 29th of October 2018. He had been at HMP Nottingham previously (July – October 2018). Wyndham was serving a life sentence, with a minimum tariff of 10 years which commenced on 9th of April 1998. He ligated and was found unconscious in his cell at 18:04 on 4th of November 2018. He had moved prisons a great deal – 13 prisons in the previous 3 years and had transferred from HMP Norwich. This had made it difficult for his family (based in South Wales) to maintain contact. He had been managed on ACCTs many times – 25 ACCTs between 2016 and 2018. Wyndham had also been prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. He began self-harming in 2016 and first ligated on 3rd of October 2016, because of a lack of tobacco. On arrival at HMP Nottingham on 29th of October 2018 he went onto F Wing. During the safer custody interview several triggers were added to his ACCT plan. These were:
- That he managed his self-harm
- That he had a parole decision coming up on the 31st of October which was a cause of stress for Wyndham (parole was refused on the 31st of October)
- That he had taken (and so was referred to the substance misuse team)
- News about his daughter’s which coincided with the anniversary of his sister’s .
- That he had issues with going onto B wing because of drugs related issues. Wyndham remained on F Wing until 2nd of November and when an officer tried to relocate him from F to B wing Wyndham struck him. At this point (1.30 pm) he was forcibly removed and placed in the segregation unit. An ACCT case review followed at 15:10 during which his healthcare safety segregation paperwork was signed. The Governor's Defensible Decision to Segregate a prisoner on an open ACCT was completed. Wyndham did not receive an assessment of his mental health within 24 hours of segregation. There were no certified safer cells to house Wyndham in, even if they had referred to his history of ligation. No care map was produced, and Wyndham was tasked by the Governor chairing the meeting with writing his goals over the weekend. Wyndham’s level of risk was increased from ‘low’ to ‘raised’ but his observation was reduced to every 2 hours. There were no measures put in place to reduce his risk of self-harm as there had been no meaningful risk assessment carried out. An officer collected Wyndham’s last from his cell on F wing at 17:30. Wyndham had been asking for access to and had been refused by the Governor in the afternoon. On Saturday 3rd of November, from early in the morning, Wyndham was pressing the cell bell regularly to request more . He made a number of demands, one of which was a listener. This was refused and Wyndham rejected the Samaritans phone that was offered. It was a source of ongoing frustration between prison officers and Wyndham. He was ‘up and down’, becoming verbally aggressive in response to repeated refusals. At 15:30 the Governor carried out his daily review of Wyndham’s continuing segregation. Wyndham moved cells in the afternoon. At approximately 18:30 Wyndham showed his escalating frustration by banging his head against the cell window and door. Self-harm, using was inflicted on Wyndham’s left forearm on the site of an earlier wound and the ACCT book was updated at 19:00. Healthcare was called but Wyndham refused treatment and a dressing was passed under the door. As staff were relying on Wyndham’s presentation and were unaware of any risk relevant information, no further action was taken and there was no review of Wyndham’s ACCT following this self-harm incident. Had the records been consulted at this point the risks would have been apparent. Wyndham was seen the following morning – on Sunday 4th – by a healthcare nurse and around 9:30am the Governor's daily review was carried out, at which point were again refused. Wyndham made repeated use of the cell bell in the morning to request . Wyndham was continuing to request vapes and being refused. A radio was provided around 17:00 as a distraction. He was still verbally abusive when his cell bell was answered at 17:45. An officer checked on Wyndham at 17:54 and observed Wyndham for 17 seconds before walking away. Wyndham was standing between the sink and the cell door, almost out of view. He was standing up and breathing although there was no verbal interaction. The officer returned at 18:04, realised that something was amiss and radioed for assistance. He could see the top of Wyndham’s head below the observation panel against the door and a ligature running down the side of the observation panel. 3 officers entered the cell at 18:06 and cut the ligature,
. An officer and nurse commenced CPR and a second nurse arrived with the emergency bag at 18:07. A code blue was called but it is not conclusive at what time precisely. Wyndham was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at QMC, at approximately 18:45. On the 6th of November 16:40 Wyndham was pronounced dead.
Similar PFD Reports
Reports sharing organisations, categories, or themes with this PFD
Related Inquiry Recommendations
Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes
Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.