Why did my Sarah die?

Jan 9 2004 By Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

Pauline said: 'Sarah should have been put on 15-minute suicide watch. Three separate warnings went unheeded.'

Pauline, like many relatives of loved ones who have died in custody, has trodden a long and painful path to unearth the truth behind these tragic and untimely deaths.

The Howard League, which is campaigning across the board for penal reform, published statistics revealing deaths in prisons, particularly of women, have nearly doubled since 2000.

Policy and campaigns officer Claire McCarthy said: 'Women's prisons replace half of their population every month. It is very difficult to detect who is at risk because staff don't get enough time to get to know the women to detect an increased risk.

'Styal is supposed to hold 417 female prisoners and is routinely holding up to 450.'

Pauline has lobbied various Government departments to instigate radical reform for prisoners and their families and to improve prison conditions.

She said: 'The Home Office has made various statements and promises but this has turned out to be meaningless rhetoric.

'There has got to be a clear political lead and sustained effort and necessary will to improve conditions.

'I am not convinced at the moment that anything meaningful is about to happen.

'It costs the taxpayer approximately £36,000 to keep someone in prison every year. Many prisoners aren't rehabilitated when they are released; many offenders reoffend. They are not inherently bad people.

'They need help and support in custody not a punitive regime.'

When Sarah died, Pauline had to borrow money to pay for her funeral. She believes the Government should have paid for costs, believing they breached a legal duty of care.

'I had to borrow the money from a friend to pay for Sarah's funeral costs of over £2,000,' she said.

'The Home Office has since offered to cover the costs for the funeral, but I am not accepting it.

'They can keep their cheque until there is some policy in place whereby the state will be obliged to pay for the funeral costs of people who have died in the care of HM Prisons.'

Pauline remains convinced the Home Office is uncomfortable about setting an inquest date for Sarah because of the details that will be revealed about the state of the conditions and regulations at Styal.

'When that takes place, people will be deeply shocked at what I have to say,' she added.