Urgent action needed to address “disturbing increase” in prison deaths, says IAPDC Chair

The latest statistics covering deaths in prison custody show an alarming increase in the number and rate of deaths in the 12 months to June 2023. During this period, 313 people died – a rate of 3.8 per 1,000 prisoners. This represents a 9% increase from 288 deaths – a rate of 3.6 per 1,000 prisoners – in the previous 12 months. Sadly, 88 of these deaths were self-inflicted, a 26% increase from the previous 12 months and the highest figure since 2019.

Commenting on the statistics, Lynn Emslie, IAPDC Chair, said:

“The latest statistics on prison deaths show a disturbing increase in the number and rate of overall deaths as well as self-inflicted deaths. 313 people sadly died in the 12 months to March 2023, with 88 of these deaths self-inflicted. Many of these deaths could have been prevented.

“These latest numbers and the recent annual report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons demonstrate that urgent action is needed to drastically improve the safety of people in prison. Access to high-quality physical and mental healthcare, purposeful activity, peer support and the key work scheme are vital to ensuring safety and decency in our prisons and achieving the aim of reducing and preventing deaths in custody.”

Further, the statistics show the highest level of self-harm incidents in female prisons since records began in 2004. In the 12 months to March 2023 there were 59,722 self-harm incidents. This is an 11% increase compared to the previous 12 months, comprising of a 1% decrease in male establishments and a 52% increase in female establishments.

Female prisoners are a particularly vulnerable group in respect of mental ill-health due to separation from their families, substance misuse, trauma, and fragile relationships. Tailored and multidisciplinary support is needed to address their often complex and diverse needs.

Increasing capacity pressures and staffing challenges as the prison service continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19 is likely to mean that risk to life within prisons will intensify. The Panel continues to advise ministers and senior officials on how to safeguard lives, including through the use of community sentences, prioritisation of peer support and key work schemes, and recruitment, training, and retention of prison staff. You can find out more about the Panel’s work here.

You can read the latest Safety in Custody statistics here.