Vulnerable Woman's Tragic Death in Prison Sparks Outrage

In a heartbreaking case, a 25-year-old woman named Alex Davies, who suffered from severe borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, died by suicide in a segregation cell at Styal Prison near Manchester on Christmas Eve 2024. An 11-day inquest concluded that neglect contributed to her tragic death.

Alex's mother, Stacie, 44, from Liverpool, said her daughter was "treated like a feral dog" in the prison and that she "wouldn't wish what happened to my daughter on my worst enemy." The inquest heard how psychiatrists had recommended that Alex be placed in a mental health hospital rather than prison, but this did not happen.

Instead, Alex was kept in the prison's Care and Separation Unit for 27 days, despite national guidelines stating that suicidal prisoners should not be held in such segregation units except in exceptional circumstances. On the day of her death, Alex became upset and was forcibly restrained before being taken to the segregation unit, where she repeatedly attempted to self-harm. Tragically, she was not placed on constant observation, and her death was ultimately ruled to be contributed to by neglect.

Stacie said her daughter "wanted help" and "wouldn't have wanted to kill herself," but the "neglectful actions of the prison staff" led to her death. The family's lawyers have called for significant changes to be made at HMP Styal to ensure vulnerable women receive the support they need.