Trans man’s prison death linked to ‘a number of failings’, report finds
A trans prisoner’s death was linked to ‘a number of failings’ (Getty Images)
A report into the death of trans man Taylor Atkinson has found he was repeatedly let down by failures in suicide and self-harm prevention procedures while incarcerated at women’s jail HMP Eastwood Park.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) said prison staff had shown concern for Atkinson, who had a long history of self-harm and was serving an IPP sentence for aggravated burglary, but identified “a number of failings” in the management of his risk before his death on 9 July 2022.
The report found that required suicide and self-harm monitoring procedures, known as ACCT, were not consistently followed, with inadequate care planning, missed multidisciplinary reviews, and failures to properly assess environmental risks after previous self-harm incidents, as reported by the Daily Echo.
Investigators also found that staff did not fully consider measures such as removing razors or a privacy curtain in his cell, despite recent concerns about his well-being.
The report noted that the day before his death, Atkinson reportedly told another prisoner that “next time” he harmed himself, nobody would find him, but there was no evidence that constant supervision was considered.
The PPO additionally criticised the emergency response after Atkinson was found on 9 July, 2022 with a severe neck wound, stating staff did not move him to the floor, use a defibrillator, or begin CPR, despite uncertainty over whether he had died.
While healthcare provision was broadly found to be comparable to that available in the community, a clinical reviewer highlighted the absence of a formal mental health care plan and shortcomings in monitoring following self-harm.
The ombudsman has issued recommendations to both prison and NHS healthcare providers, noting that similar ACCT failures had been identified in the death of another prisoner at the same facility just two days earlier.
Readers affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans free on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
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