We need to drive them down further

Prison Service director general Martin Narey

But Mr Narey acknowledged that the drop in the number of deaths was too small.

"This is nowhere near enough," he said.

"We need to drive them down further."

Pressure group Inquest agree that the figure remains "unacceptably high".

"It is clear from evidence at inquests that many of these deaths were clearly preventable and yet the prison service is still failing to learn the lessons," a spokeswoman said.

The fall in the overall figure masks a rise in the number of deaths among remand prisoners, she added.

"We are really concerned that this year has seen the highest ever number of such deaths among remand prisoners."

These deaths highlight how dangerous and inappropriate it is to send so many young people to prison

Inquest

While the 18 deaths so far this year among young prisoners is only one fewer than last year's record number, the spokeswoman said.

"Juveniles are the group most at risk of suicide and self-harm and these deaths highlight how dangerous and inappropriate it is to send so many young people to prison with neither the resources nor facilities to care for them."

A Prison Service spokeswoman said a review of its strategy on suicides commissioned earlier this year is expected to report back early in 2001.

Following its recommendations, a three-year strategy to reduce suicide and self harm will be written in consultation with chief inspector of prisons Sir David Ramsbotham, staff, voluntary organisations and experts.

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