Category: 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 Independent Sentencing Review is a crucial step in reducing the prison population and driving much-needed improvements to safety across the estate.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons’ annual report, published yesterday, catalogues the series of ongoing failures to manage prisoners safely across the estate. Suicide and self-harm rates remain worryingly high, with some prisons seeing a considerable increase in these numbers. This must be addressed.

Today’s announcement by the Lord Chancellor that thousands of prisoners will be released early testifies to the serious and enduring challenges faced by the prison service. While we recognise the regrettable need for immediate action to address the current overcrowding crisis, these measures are simply a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

The findings from the Independent Monitoring Board’s annual report are a stark reminder of the serious risks to the life of those held in our closed institutions. The report, published today, finds that the ongoing prison capacity crisis and staffing challenges are causing “tremendous strain”, including on the prison service’s ability to safeguard prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm.

The Government’s recent announcements of emergency measures to tackle prison overcrowding – Operation Early Dawn and the extension of the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) scheme – demonstrate the severity of the enduring capacity crisis.

We are deeply concerned by the troubling increase in self-harm across the prison estate.