Prison suicides have risen by more than 40% in the first six months of 2002, government figures have revealed.

Attempted suicides and self-harm incidents in HM Prisons have also gone up by a third for the same period, Home Office minister Lord Falconer said in a Lords written reply.

The minister said there were 31 suicides in the first half of 2001 (January to June), compared with 44 in 2002 up to 5 July.

Jail suicides

Jul-Dec 2000: 30 Jan-Jun 2001: 31 Jul-Dec 2001: 42 Jan-Jul 2002: 44

There were also 42 suicides in the second half of 2001 compared with 39 for the same period in 2000.

Self-harm incidents and attempted suicides numbered 4,524 for the first half of 2002 up to 5 July, as against 3,307 for the first six months of 2001.

Such incidents numbered 2,762 in the second half of 2000 and jumped to 4,179 for the period July to December in 2001.

Overcrowded

The minister said the Prison Service made no distinction between self-harm incidents and attempted suicides in their reporting.

There have been concerns that the weight of numbers in the jail system is affecting inmates' well-being.

Attempted suicides/self-harm

Jul-Dec 2000: 2,762 Jan-Jun 2001: 3,307 Jul-Dec 2001: 4,179 Jan-Jul 2002: 4,524

The numbers of inmates in England and Wales reached a record 71,341 earlier this month, a rise of more than 25,000 in 10 years.

A recent survey of prison boards of visitors said 18 prisons had returned to "degrading and inhumane" prison conditions caused by cell sharing and excessive time locked up.

Eleven boards were concerned about damage to mental health, increased self harm and suicide attempts.