A prisoner deemed at high risk of suicide was found hanged in his cell at HMP Hewell after a guard failed to carry out required checks. Mesut Olgun, a 30-year-old Turkish national, died in hospital six days after the incident.
Background of the Case
Olgun was remanded to custody following an incident in Bromyard, Herefordshire, where he smashed shop windows, cut his own throat, and attacked a police dog and its handler. He was arrested in the early hours of June 6, 2018, and initially placed under constant supervision in police custody. He appeared in court the next day and was remanded to prison.
Prison Procedures and Failures
Court custody staff checked Olgun six times per hour, and a suicide and self-harm warning form was completed before HMP Hewell was notified of his high-risk status. Prison staff decided Olgun would be checked four times per hour, but the night patrol officer, Graham Evans, carried out only 15 checks instead of the required 33. CCTV footage confirmed the neglect, leaving Olgun unsupervised for significant periods.
Discovery and Aftermath
At around 6:45 a.m. on June 8, prisoners picking up litter noticed Olgun hanging in his cell. Staff performed CPR until paramedics arrived, and his heart was restarted, but he remained unresponsive in intensive care. He died on June 14, 2018.
Ombudsman Report
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) found that Olgun had expressed suicidal thoughts to police, had a history of poor mental health, and appeared depressed. Despite this, a nurse at HMP Hewell assessed him and decided constant supervision was not clinically necessary, opting for checks every 15 minutes. The PPO report noted that Olgun said he felt safe in prison and had no current suicidal thoughts.
Adrian Usher, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, stated: 'I do not know if constant supervision would have been sufficient to keep Mr Olgun safe because the night patrol officer did not make the required checks.' He recommended that if a prisoner meets the criteria for constant supervision but staff decide against it, there should be a documented multi-disciplinary discussion to justify the decision.
Graham Evans was convicted of misconduct in a public office in November 2023 for failing to carry out the required checks. The criminal investigation delayed the publication of the PPO report.
