Latest prison and police custody deaths data – signs of progress on suicides and natural deaths, but serious concerns remain
With both reductions and increases in deaths across prisons and police custody, the latest figures continue to highlight the need to protect vulnerable people in the criminal justice system, ensure lessons are learned and prevent avoidable harm.
Statistics published today by the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS show that, while the number of deaths in prison custody has fallen over the past year, significant concerns remain. In the 12 months to June 2026, there were 359 deaths in prison custody, a 10% decrease from 401 deaths in the previous 12 months.
Of these, 71 were self-inflicted deaths, an 18% decrease compared with the previous year. While this decrease is welcome news, no such deaths are acceptable and more needs to be done to prevent them.
In the 12 months to June 2026, there were eight homicides in prison custody, up from seven in the previous year and the highest number recorded, following a six-year period in which yearly totals never exceeded three. This increase is deeply concerning and highlights the need for a renewed focus on violence reduction and prison safety.
There were 70,632 incidents of self-harm, a 10% decrease from the previous year. The number of individuals who self-harmed also fell, with 152 individuals per 1,000 prisoners recorded as self-harming compared with 160 per 1,000 in the previous 12 months. Despite these reductions, self-harm remains at historically high levels. Improvements are still needed in mental health support, suicide and self-harm prevention, staff training and welfare checks. The figures also demonstrate the particular challenges faced in the women’s estate, where rates of self-harm remain substantially higher than in male prisons.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has also published its annual deaths during or following police contact report for 2025/26. The report shows that 27 people died in or following police custody, up from 18 the previous year. Of those who died, 24 were men and three were women, with ages ranging from 18 to 65. Eighteen individuals had known mental health concerns, while 22 had links to alcohol and/or drugs.
The figures also raise important concerns about the use of force and restraint in custody-related incidents. Twelve of the 27 people who died had force used against them before their deaths, including 10 people who were physically restrained by police officers. Five incidents involved the use of leg restraints, one involved PAVA spray and another involved the discharge of a Taser. While the IOPC notes that the use of force did not necessarily contribute to the deaths, the findings reinforce the need for restraint to be used safely and proportionately, particularly where people are experiencing mental ill health or acute distress.
There were also 67 apparent suicides following police custody in 2025/26, up from 61 the previous year. This figure refers to people who were released from police custody and later apparently took their own lives. These deaths continue to raise concerns about how vulnerable individuals are identified and supported during and after police contact. The IOPC treats these as a separate statistical category from deaths in or following police custody because the circumstances, investigative considerations, and prevention measures differ. Individuals recorded in this category are not included in the total for deaths in or following police custody.
We will continue to work with partners across the criminal justice system to improve the identification of people at heightened risk, ensure appropriate support is available during custody and following release, and promote learning from deaths. This includes strengthening safeguarding arrangements, preventing self-inflicted deaths, improving healthcare and end-of-life care, and ensuring people experiencing mental health crises receive appropriate support both in custody and on release.