News

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.

Data published today show a continued increase in the number of deaths in police custody, with 24 deaths in 2023/24. This is higher than the average of 19 police custody deaths per year since records began in 2004/05.

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.

It is a tragic, but well understood, fact that people in state detention have significantly elevated death rates.

We welcome the inclusion of legislation to reform and modernise the Mental Health Act in the King’s Speech delivered at the state opening of parliament yesterday. This is a long overdue and much-needed reform for which we have been calling for several years.

Last month the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) published guidance on preventing police custody deaths. It provides examples of good practice and recommendations for preventing the tragic loss of life in police custody and shortly following release.

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.