http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151105/local/update-2-traffic-policeman-critically-injured-in-san-gwann-crash.590984

At three in one (admittedly unusual) month per half million population, the UK figure for that hypothetical month would have been 384. Germany averaged 12.8 deaths in police custody per year from 1993 to 2003. With Malta’s rate over this month, it would have had 528 deaths in that one unfortunate month.

Granted, with small numbers one or two additional cases make a massive impact, and this could be a statistical quirk; but three suicides and a further attempt certainly look statistically highly unlikely.

Parents have been convicted of child abuse in some countries based on the massive statistical improbability that two of their children would have suffered similar, otherwise unexplained, illnesses.

One can only believe this is a statistical quirk if there is an open, independent inquiry into the deaths, including protected interviews with prisoners, and with representation of prisoners’ welfare and drug addiction support NGOs on the board of inquiry.

At face value, there does appear to be an underlying issue of great import, be it bullying, or murder, or drugs, or even potentially a rogue prison officer (cf Beverley Allitt etc in the UK, and that nurse in Italy last year, who killed patients under their care in hospital).