Latest deaths and self-harm data paint a disturbing picture in our prisons
The latest prison deaths data are a stark reminder of the risks to life in our closed institutions. The data show that 317 people died in the 12-months to September 2024, a 4% increase compared to the previous 12-month period. Over a quarter of these deaths were self-inflicted.
The number and rate of self-harm incidents paint a particularly disturbing picture, standing at the highest levels since records began. Male prisons saw a 20% increase in the rate of self-harm in the 12 months to June 2024, while the rate in female prisons was eight times higher than that in male prisons.
Unprecedented capacity pressures and enduring staffing challenges have led to serious disruptions to the delivery of key interventions which we know help keep prisoners safe and well. These include regime and purposeful activity, key work, access to family contact, and the provision of timely mental and physical healthcare.
We know that ‘sticking plaster’ solutions fail to provide the long-term relief and stability desperately needed in our prisons. The sentencing review and plans for a ten-year capacity strategy are therefore welcomed. However, we are clear that if these measures are to have real impact, they must place safety at their core and include non-negotiable ‘redlines’ that custody numbers will never be permitted to exceed safe capacity.