“Nothing has changed … everyone promises, it’s delivering that counts.”
On 1 February 2018 the inquest into the self-inflicted death of 21 year-old Emily Hartley at HMP New Hall in 2016 concluded.
She was the youngest of 22 women to die in a women’s prison that year; 2016 saw the highest annual number of deaths on record.
And the evidence at the inquest raised serious issues about the decision to place Emily in prison.
Emily had been remanded in custody in May 2015 after she set fire to herself, her bed and curtains. She had a history of serious mental ill health including self-harm, suicide attempts and drug addiction. This was her first time in prison.
Emily’s family said: “Whilst we were shocked to find Emily sent to prison, the one consolation was that we believed she would be kept safe.”
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