Key information about a Southampton offender who died two days after being released from prison was not shared with the relevant authorities, an investigation has concluded.
Malcolm Bennett was jailed for making threats with a bladed/sharply pointed article in a public place in April 2022.
But two days after he was released from Bullingdon Prison in Oxfordshire that July, a friend found him dead at his supported accommodation in Southampton.
He had been taking heroin, crack cocaine and spice until the early hours of the morning with that friend, a report said.
A post-mortem previously found the 47-year-old's cause of death was drug toxicity, with COPD and left ventricular hypertrophy given as contributory factors, and an inquest returned a conclusion of misadventure.
Now, a report released from the prisons and probation ombudsman has found that staff at Bullingdon did not share information about Bennett's self harm or suicide risk with his community offender manager (COM) ahead of his release.
Bennett, 47, was under self-harm prevention procedures known as ACCT while in his short prison sentence, and if a prisoner is treated under ACCT 12 months before their release, relevant risk information must be shared prior to release.
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The report said: “Staff at Bullingdon did not share information about Mr Bennett’s ACCT or suicide and self-harm risk with Mr Bennett’s COM prior to his release.
“As a result, Mr Bennett’s COM was not fully aware of the risks Mr Bennett presented and was not able to consider whether any additional support should be offered to Mr Bennett on release.”
The report did note that Bennett was given “appropriate support” to address substance misuse while incarcerated at Bullingdon – he was trained to use naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an opiate overdose.
After his release on July 14, 2022, Bennett did not attend his appointment at Southampton Probation Office, or arrive at the accommodation found for him.
The next day, Bennett attended the probation office and stated that he did not attend his prior appointment due to heat stroke.
Unrelated to his imprisonment, Bennett had previously been given a Criminal Behaviour Order excluding him from a number of locations across Southampton after theft and assault of an emergency worker.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Our sympathies remain with the friends and family of Malcom Bennett.
“Since Mr Bennett’s death HMP Bullingdon has taken steps to ensure information about prisoners’ risk of suicide or self-harm is shared with community offender managers ahead of release.”
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