The family of Kay Melhuish who has recently committed suicide in prison after being left without a clean inner garment for 10 days and denied phone calls to the loved ones, had called for an urgent reform of the existing England’s justice system.

The Guardian reported that Melhuish was taken to custody when she was found holding a knife to her throat outside the place where two of her children were living with her ex-partner. She has been suffering from an acute mental health crisis.

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Melhuish was taken into custody and was being held on remand when the unfortunate incident took place. She was found unconscious in July 2022 and later died in the hospital after three days.

A jury at Avon coroner’s court had concluded last week that Eastwood Park prison had failed to provide Kay Melhusih’s “basic human needs” and the neglect had resulted in her death in July 2022 after “gross failing” in her care.

She was only provided with clean underwear after nurse intervention. After allowing an initial phone call, it took 16 days before she was allowed with another. Though the prison was aware of her history of suicide and self-harm, moreover, her autism coupled with complex PTSD from violence inflicted on her since childhood, they have not taken the necessary action to take care of her.

Officers saw her making obvious preparations to end her life that day but did not consider putting her under constant supervision as well.

The family says Melhuish’s case is a stark reminder of the dangers of a justice system that criminalizes vulnerable women, reports the Guardian.
In an interview with her daughter, Oceana, she said, “Mum was ill, not bad. She had harmed herself and that’s a big enough red flag. She wasn’t a criminal, she was just someone that was really unwell.”

During her days at Eastwood Park, it was reported that due to a lack of proper medications, she was seen covering her ears with her hands to block the noise, punching herself, and creating the means to end her life.

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She had arrived at the prison with none of her medications and was given diazepam with the dosage dangerously reduced.
Eastwood Park was given the lowest grade for safety in a 2022 inspection, which warned about concerning gaps in care for the most vulnerable and distressed women.

The family had said that the case of Kay Melhuish is a stark reminder of the dangers of criminalizing vulnerable women.