THE mother of youngest child to die in custody last night called for concerted action to prevent a similar tragedy.

Carol Pounder, whose son Adam Rickwood, 14, hanged himself with his shoelaces while on remand, was responding to report published yesterday which said some of the 600 deaths in custody in England and Wales each year could be prevented.

The figure, compiled across all types of custody including police cells, prisons, approved premises and secure hospitals, included a large number of deaths from natural causes, suicides and other events such as homicides.

Adam had been restrained using a controversial "nose distraction technique" during which he was punched in the face, while at the privately-run Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, near Consett, County Durham, three years ago.

Mrs Pounder said: "Something has to be done. I feel the Government is providing inadequate support for these young children.

"The secure training centres are not properly monitored. The number of child deaths in custody is shocking."

The total number of deaths has been calculated for the first time by the Forum For Preventing Deaths In Custody.

A spokesman for the organisation said last night: "The forum believes that some of these deaths could and should have been prevented."

The report said there was a need for a "more robust and joined-up approach" to the way agencies share information about people who may be at risk.

The document revealed there were 523 deaths in custody in 2006/07 but this figure did not include those in police custody.

In 2005/06 there were 586 deaths and in the previous 12 months the figure was 590.

Forum chairman John Wadham said: "This is the first time anyone has attempted to put these figures together.

"It is a surprise that the figures have never been produced before.

"The number of deaths in custody is the mark of a civilised society.

"I think this is too high and we need to reduce it."

He added: "Six hundred deaths is a very significant figure."

The total for 2004/05 included 389 deaths from natural causes and a further 127 self-inflicted deaths.

Overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales has coincided with an increase in the number of self-inflicted deaths this year.

So far in 2007 there have been 68 cases compared with 46 at this point last year.