THE family of a prisoner who hanged himself in HMP Durham has called for an inquiry into the prison’s suicide prevention policy as an inquest begins into his death tomorrow.

Garry Beadle was the first of four prisoners who took their own lives in HMP Durham last year.

He was found hanging in his cell on October 8, 2019, and died in hospital four days later at the age of 36.

Mr Beadle’s family is being represented by the independent charity Inquest, which investigates state-related deaths.

The group did not identify the charge or charges facing Mr Beadle but said: “It was Garry’s first time in prison and he was awaiting trial.

“He was on suicide and self-harm monitoring procedures at the time of his death and a close friend had contacted the police with concerns about Garry’s suicide risk.”

Mr Beadle’s mother Karen wants answers on how the prison deals with people identified as being at risk of suicide, including access to medication, prison officer training on potential suicide and self-harm, and the adequacy of the emergency response when her son was found.

A 2018 official inspection of HMP Durham stressed “overriding concern around the lack of safety in the prison.”