Inmate’s suicide: No charges to be brought (From The Northern Echo)

Inmate’s suicide: No charges to be brought

8:38am Saturday 14th March 2009 in Search By Gavin Engelbrecht

THE Crown Prosecution Service will not pursue criminal charges against prison officers after a lengthy police investigation into the suicide of a vulnerable inmate, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The move was greeted with dismay by the family of Paul Day, 31, who died in a segregated cell following “systemic failings” by Frankland Prison, in Durham.

Detectives investigated Mr Day’s death after a campaign by his parents, Pauline and Andrew. They said the Prison Service failed in its duty of care to their son.

Mrs Day said: “We are devastated by this news and are looking at all our options, including seeking a judicial review.

There are lots of questions we have not had answered.”

Mr Day said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had considered a number of charges, including murder, gross negligence, misconduct in public office and perjury.

At a five-week inquest in 2005, a jury found that officers did nothing to prevent relentless verbal abuse against Mr Day by fellow prisoners.

Despite being on self-harm watch requiring regular checks, records showed gaps of an hour or longer when he was not monitored.

The inquest heard that the 31-year-old, who had been serving an eight-year-sentence for robbery and assault on a fellow prisoner, spent his last 51 days in isolation, 300 miles from his home in Essex.

He suffered abuse from fellow prisoners as an informer and took part in one of the biggest dirty protests seen in a mainland British jail, the inquest was told.

The case prompted Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle to call on the Prison Service to conduct an “urgent review of systemic failings”.

A police spokesman said last night: “Officers carried out a lengthy and rigorous investigation.

“Late last year a file was submitted to the CPS for consideration by specialist case workers, which has concluded with the decision that no further action is to be taken.”

A CPS spokesman said: “After a full and thorough review of that evidence, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of a conviction.

We have written to Mr Day’s family and offered them a meeting in case they wish to discuss our decision.”