Helen Stone calls for lessons to be learnt to reduce the risk of self-inflicted deaths in prison
6 Oct 2023
Following the inquest into the death of Jack Zarrop, Hickman & Rose partner Helen Stone has warned of the need for lessons to be learnt and improvements made to reduce the risk to vulnerable prisoners.
Jack’s death by suicide at HMP Wormwood Scrubs was found at his inquest to be the result of multiple failures by police, prison and prison healthcare staff.
Jack was 23 when he died: the youngest of a series of deaths at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, where there have been 13 self-inflicted deaths since 2018.
Helen represented Jack’s family at the inquest. Speaking afterwards she said: “The jury’s conclusions lay bare how serial and fundamental failures by nearly all those responsible for keeping Jack safe in prison contributed to his death.
“Vital screening processes, policies and procedures simply were not followed, with the police, the prison and healthcare staff all failing in their duty of care towards Jack. Lessons must be learnt and improvements made to reduce the risk to other vulnerable prisoners like Jack.”
