WINCHESTER MP Mark Oaten has expressed concern about the sharp rise in suicides and self-harming at the city jail.

Numbers had been dropping for several years but there were three suicides and 106 incidents of self-harm in 2008.

Many initiatives have been taken such as safer cells and a “listener” scheme whereby prisoners help those considered vulnerable.

Mr Oaten said: “The self-harm and suicide rates last year were quite sobering. While the general trend has been a decline, last year’s rise is deeply worrying and we should all hope a repeat can be avoided.”

Mr Oaten said there were grounds for optimism at the prison. The budget remains constant at about £15m per year. There is a general decrease in the numbers of inmates failing drugs tests.

He added: “I have consistently said that the governor and prison staff are doing a good job in some quite tough conditions. And the figures I obtained from the Government this week show that in many areas the prison is showing signs of improvement.”