Prison officials requested police to notify family members when a prisoner passed away while incarcerated, but mistakenly directed them to the wrong relatives. This mix-up occurred due to the presence of two inmates sharing the same name at HMP Frankland in Durham, as disclosed in a recent report. Initially, authorities visited the family of Mohammed Ahmed on March 12, 2024, only to realize that another inmate with the same name had actually died. The incorrect contact information was sourced from a visitor list. The Prison Service issued an apology for the mistake and confirmed that measures have been implemented to avoid a recurrence of such errors at the facility, which houses approximately 850 prisoners.
The report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) highlighted the issue, stating, “The initial contact details gathered for Mr. Ahmed’s next of kin were erroneously obtained from a visits list, belonging to another prisoner with the same name. This oversight should not have occurred. It is considered best practice, particularly within the long-term estate, to regularly review next of kin details to ensure their prompt availability when required.”
Following Ahmed’s death, authorities dispatched police to the residence in the West Midlands region. An inquest at Crook Coroners’ Court in Co Durham later determined that he had died by suicide.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service expressed regret over the distress caused and confirmed that a letter was sent to the affected family. The error was swiftly rectified upon identification, and precautions have been taken to prevent similar incidents, including conducting annual checks of next of kin details.
Ahmed’s history revealed that he had been convicted in 2003 for attempting to harm his wife but was deemed unfit to stand trial and consequently transferred to a secure medical institution. Upon assessment, doctors concluded that he had been dishonest about his condition, leading to a ten-year prison sentence.
Released on license in June 2009, Ahmed was recalled to HMP Birmingham six months later after being charged with assaulting his probation officer. Subsequently, in July 2010, he received an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence with a minimum term of five years.
In December 2014, Ahmed was relocated to HMP Frankland, where he had limited interaction with fellow inmates, according to the PPO report, and sporadic communication via mail with acquaintances.
Reportedly without any known mental health issues, Ahmed consistently denied having suicidal thoughts and declined assistance when offered. His life came to an end at 5:43 am on March 13, 2024, when officers discovered him deceased in his cell during a routine inspection. Despite summoning medical assistance, it was evident that he had already passed away, and resuscitation efforts were not pursued. Paramedics officially confirmed his death at 6:31 am.
For mental health support, individuals can contact the Samaritans at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to locate the nearest branch.