Christian Hinkley
4 Nov 2021 · Coroner Scott Matthewson · Mid Kent and Medway
A similar concern from this report was raised again 1 time later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. inadequate fire detection in prisons
“The system of fire detection in HM Prisons is currently inadequate and unsafe”
2. prisoners with fire-setting or barricading history
“deaths in prison over the last decade have almost exclusively involved prisoners who are on or have recently been on an Assessment, Care in Custody Teamwork Programme or who have a history of barricading and fire-setting in prison or a conviction for arson”
3. lack of in-cell fire detectors
“The only effective way to address this problem is to install in-cell automatic fire detectors”
4. delayed installation of fire detection systems
“Fire safety systems are complex in nature and can take between two and three years to deliver at a single establishment”
5. existing detection insufficient for cells
“Every prison wing is already fitted with an automatic fire detection system for spaces other than for cells”
Linked reports
Identical hazardConfidence 0.95 · high
This report
“Every prison wing is already fitted with an automatic fire detection system for spaces other than for cells.”
Later report
“The Ministry of Justice has determined that in-cell automatic fire detection (AFD) is necessary to minimise the risk of harm from fires.”
Responses
2021-0376-Response-from-HMPPS_Published.pdf ↗· Minister of State for Prisons and Probation
Stated action · 5-7 years
“The rollout of the automatic fire safety systems nationally relies on a sustained level of investment and on the availability of resources to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the prison regimes. Fire safety systems are costly and complex to install and there can be delays in these works due to important measures to maintain the safety of staff and prison residents and also to maintain the overall security of the prison. It can therefore take a number of years to install the full system”