Jail chiefs will show prisoners how to kill themselves

Prisoners across England and Wales are to be shown how to hang themselves in a "shocking" campaign ordered by jail chiefs hoping to reduce the record numbers of prison deaths this year.

Haunting poster images of hanging inmates, with descriptions of how easy it is to commit suicide in a cell, are to be used in a radical attempt to save lives of prisoners who accidentally kill themselves making "cries for help".

The director general of the Prison Service, Martin Narey, told The Independent he had decided on the measure after consulting the Prisons minister, Hilary Benn; the Samaritans and prison reform groups. He argued that the campaign would not encourage more prisoners to kill themselves, saying that, after 89 jail deaths this year, hangings had become commonplace at prisons.

The decision comes as new Home Office figures forecast that the prison population could rise from 73,000 to 100,000 in four years' time. Even under a best-case scenario, the figure could be 91,400 in seven years time. Prison reformers argue the number of suicides is a by-product of overcrowding.

Mr Narey said: "Not everyone agrees with me about this. Some people believe if I do as I'm going to do it might put this in people's minds. But this is in people's minds already, we've had 89 people kill themselves."

He said that he hoped the "very frank and very stark" images would "shock, and grab young people's attention and get them to take the danger to themselves seriously". The director general said: "We are going to put up posters in the New Year which will frankly remind young people and tell them how easy it is and tell them not to do it. A cry for help does not work if it leads to immediate death."

Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the poster idea was "appalling", adding: "These are mostly young people who need someone to sit and talk to, rather than be subjected to a frightening poster.'' She said action was needed to reduce the prison population and the number of young people inside.