Judge orders public inquiry into young offender’s attempted suicide at Feltham

A High Court judge has ordered an independent public inquiry into the attempted suicide of a young offender at Feltham young offender institution.

The Jamaican inmate, known as JL, who has not been named for legal reasons, was left brain damaged for life after trying to hang himself in August 2002.

Campaign group Inquest said the judgement would have “far-reaching consequences” for the investigation of cases where people detained compulsorily sustained life-threatening injuries in police, prison, immigration or mental health detention.

The Home Office refused to comment.