National strategy needed to reduce ligature deaths, says IAPDC in new report 

This article contains reference to suicide, including details of ligature-related deaths in detention settings. If you or someone you know is affected, please contact Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org for support. 

Ligature-related deaths continue to take too many lives across the prison estate. Our latest report, published today, examines long-term trends and strategies for reducing ligature deaths in prisons in England and Wales. Drawing on 25 years of published data on prison deaths (1999-2024), it provides an overview of protective measures used in prisons and other custodial settings and incorporates international research and cross-custody learning to inform practice.  

Sadly, ligature-related deaths account for the vast majority (89%) of prison suicides. Urgent and sustained action is needed to prevent these tragic – and often avoidable – deaths. This includes reviewing and removing ligature points in both newly built and existing cells, implementing structured monitoring and information sharing processes, and supporting research within prisons to inform effective prevention strategies. 

Crucially, ligature reduction strategies must be part of a broader, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach to identifying and managing risk. This should be embedded within a national strategy that sets minimum safety standards and improves consistency across the prison estate. The Prison Service must also draw on lessons from secure health settings and police custody settings, where significant progress has been made in reducing ligature-related deaths. We are working with senior officials and custody leaders across the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS to help embed this learning into practice. 

IAPDC member Professor Seena Fazel, who led on this research with his colleague Rachel Chow, said: 

“Ligature-related deaths remain a significant concern across the prison estate. While reducing access to ligature means is important, so too is the quality and consistency of risk assessments, and healthcare provided to vulnerable prisoners. Facilitating research within prisons is vital to understanding and more effectively preventing these deaths.” 

Lynn Emslie, IAPDC Chair, added: 

“Our report seeks to bring the critical issue of ligature deaths in prisons to the forefront and provides a foundation for meaningful and lasting reform in their prevention. We urge the Government and prison leaders to act on these findings and recommendations.” 

You can read our report here.