A PRISON where a 19-year-old woman was found hanged has been slammed by a charity that supports the families of people who die in custody.

Kathryn Jones, who came from Malvern, became the second woman in just over two days to die in prison last week.

The teenager, on remand for attempted murder, was found hanging in her cell at HMP Brockhill, near Bromsgrove, on Friday. On Wednesday, a woman died at HMP New Hall.

These deaths bring the toll of women up to 13 already this year, and 11 since April.

This brings the numbers close to that of 2003, when there were 14 self-inflicted deaths of women in prisons across England and Wales.

Now prison rights group Inquest has demanded immediate action.

"Last year saw a 64 per cent increase on the previous year's numbers and we are close to meeting this in 2004," said Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest.

History

"For history to repeat itself in this way is utterly shocking. For two women to be found dead in just over two days defies belief.

"This shameful and relentless death toll exposes a crisis in women's prisons and the numbers of women being sent to prisons that cannot protect their right to life.

"Prison cannot be used as a dumping ground for some of the most vulnerable people in society and these deaths raise serious concerns.

"Following each death there is an individual investigation and inquest and yet lessons are clearly not being learnt."

A spokesman for the Prison Service said Jones had been on remand in Brockhill since the end of August for attempted murder, but was not on suicide watch.