A prisoner took his own life after he found out the government had rejected plans to resentence inmates serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP).

Sean Davies died in a cell at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch last year, leaving a note saying he had “no chance of being released”.

A Prevention of Future Deaths report sent to the Ministry of Justice notes that he was sentenced to an IPP for an offence of violence in November 2012.

Such sentences were abolished in December that year due to criticism, however this did not apply to existing prisoners who were already serving IPPs.

Davies’ minimum term of seven years was reduced to five years on appeal. He became eligible for parole in November 2017.

In 2021 he transferred to Swaleside to join the psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) unit where he was able to fully engage with a programme which improved his chances of parole.

In April 2022 he was assessed as suitable for a category C prison but this was revoked that October after unprescribed medication was found in his cell.

Following this, Davies expressed feelings of hopelessness at clinical sessions but continued to engage.

On February 10, last year he was informed of the outcome of the justice committee’s review of IPP sentences when its recommendation for a resentencing exercise was rejected by the government.

Davies died days later, aged 30, in the early hours of February 25.

The report states: “Mr Davies left a note stating that he had taken his own life because of the IPP sentence.

“He expressed frustration at the slow progress of his sentence, re-categorisation and concerns about how the parole board would view this and his past behaviour.

“He saw no chance of being released. He went on to say that he hoped that his death would contribute for them to change the laws of the IPP sentence.”

An inquest jury concluded that factors relevant to the death, but which cannot be concluded to have caused or contributed to it, included a lack of communication between staff and insufficiently completed welfare checks.

“Action should be taken to prevent future deaths...”

The report said there were 55 prisoners at HMP Swaleside subject to IPP sentences.

A coroner has raised concerns over the potential risk of future deaths at the prison unless action is taken.

Senior coroner for mid Kent and Medway Patricia Harding said: “In the clinical review following the death of Mr Davies a recommendation was made that the governor and head of healthcare ensure that a risk formulation was completed for all prisoners subject to IPP sentences, that it was regularly reviewed and updated including where there has been an event that may increase a person’s risk of suicide and self harm.

“Such formulation should be made readily available for all staff to refer and be stored within the prison and medical records.

“It was clear from CCTV evidence that prison officers and operational support group officers were not conducting roll call welfare checks and other welfare checks in line with national guidance or local policies.

“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you Ministry of Justice and governor [of] HMP Swaleside have the power to take such action.”

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