HMP Wandsworth staff 'underestimated' risk prisoner posed to himself before he took his own life
| Published date | 25 April 2024 |
| Publication title | MyLondon (England) |
Mr Springham was charged with indecent exposure and sent to HMP Wandsworth on February 22, 2021, after being arrested wandering the streets naked the day before. He had been assessed in hospital the previous month after being found naked in public, with staff finding evidence of paranoia and psychosis.
Mr Springham told a nurse at HMP Wandsworth he had no mental health issues and no thoughts of suicide or self-harm. He said he would not see a psychiatrist when a GP told him he needed to be referred. Staff immediately started ACCT as they were concerned about his 'odd behaviour and unkempt appearance', the report said, and put him on hourly observations. He was monitored under ACCT throughout his three weeks at HMP Wandsworth.
The report said staff should have held a case review on February 23, within 24 hours of the ACCT being opened, but it appears it did not go ahead until February 28 after Mr Springham repeatedly refused to engage with them. On the same day, he stripped and jumped naked onto the netting of the landing below his cell after being asked to put a shirt on.
Mr Springham was moved to the prison's Addison Unit for assessment of possible psychosis on March 1. During his time on the unit, a psychiatrist raised concerns that prison was not the right place for him. Although staff could not reach a formal diagnosis, another psychiatrist noted he had probable underlying psychosis and referred him to a psychiatric intensive care unit in his home area of Nottingham for assessment. Staff also decided he was unfit to attend his court hearing on March 15.
Mr Springham grabbed a member of staff around the neck after his cell was unlocked for a shower on March 16. Staff decided he would not be unlocked again without three prison officers present. He was last seen at 11.31am that morning when he refused lunch.
A nurse saw Mr...
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