Prisons and probation

In the 12 months to June 2024, there were 308 deaths in prison custody. This is calculated at a rate of 3.5 per 1,000 prisoners. 85 of these deaths were self-inflicted and 176 deaths were due to natural causes.

There were 14 deaths of offenders with residence in Approved Premises in 2022/23, an increase of 1 death since 2021/22. Deaths in Approved Premises accounted for 1% of all deaths of offenders in the community in 2022/23.

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Prisons Strategy White Paper consultation

In December 2021, the Government published it Prisons Strategy White Paper which “sets out a vision for a modern prison estate that protects the public and cuts crime by rehabilitating offenders”.

The IAPDC submitted its response to the consultation, calling on the Government to make the prevention of avoidable deaths in custody its top priority and prioritise the areas of prison policy and operations which would have the greatest impact in reducing them. These include: ensuring adequate staffing levels and proper support and supervision; eradicating ligature points and observing health and safety requirements; delivering meaningful regimes and contact with families; and facilitating research and consultation with people with lived experience.

Read the response to the Prisons Strategy White Paper consultation (February 2022)

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Substance misuse-related deaths and treatment in the criminal justice system

In 2021 the IAPDC was asked by HMPPS to contribute to the review of their 2019 drug strategy from the perspective of deaths in custody and meeting obligations to protect lives. This resulted in the publication of a report which brings together significant expert advice with the specific focus on preventing substance misuse-related deaths.

The report highlights the need for a whole-systems approach to tackling substance misuse and aiding support and recovery. It also advocates for greater use of harm-reduction initiatives and the use of mechanisms to help ensure recommendations made following a death can be shared with the relevant people.

Read the report: Protecting lives: a cross-system approach to addressing alcohol and drug-related deaths within the criminal justice system (January 2022)

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Self-harm in prison seminar

In February 2021 the IAPDC invited those working in prisons and prisons policy to a seminar that focused on the current understanding around risk factors, both national and international. It also highlighted the interventions and trials for specific groups. The presentations were led by IAPDC panel members, Professors Seena Fazel and Jenny Shaw, as well as contributions from Jenny’s University of Manchester colleagues Louise Robinson, Kerry Gutridge, and Daniel Pratt.

Watch: Dr Louise Robinson and Dr Kerry Gutridge discuss approaches taken in women’s prisons, interventions for self-harm, including the ‘Worship’ and ‘Cover’ projects, and recent grant work (February 2021)

Watch: Dr Daniel Pratt discuss intervention work with men (CBT focus) and ‘Prosper’ trials (February 2021)

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Prevention of natural deaths in custody

In conjunction with the Royal College of Nursing, the IAPDC published a report in September 2020 to identify how natural deaths in prison might be prevented, where possible, and end of life care managed with dignity and compassion.

The report draws together insights from an extensive expert roundtable, prisoner consultation, and wider research. It covers primary care and chronic disease management, care of older prisoners, dementia care, social care provision, compassionate release, palliative care, culture, workforce, and training.

Read the report: Avoidable natural deaths in prison custody: putting things right (September 2020)

The IAPDC and Royal College of Nursing provided the foreword for Hospice UK’s 2021 ‘Dying Behind Bars’ report. The report uses in-depth analysis of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s Fatal Incident reports, as well as close engagement with hospice services and other health and social care providers who support imprisoned people at the end of life.

Read the report: Dying Behind Bars: How can we better support people in prison at the end of life? (April 2021)

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Safety impact assessment

The safety impact assessment, as recommended by the IAPDC, is designed to have a positive impact on decision making at a systemic level and help to maintain a consistently high level of priority for promoting safety for staff and prisoners in prisons. Such a proposal would strengthen accountability, reduce the risk of fluctuations in risk levels, and help to prevent suicide, self-harm and violence in custody.

Following engagement with MoJ and HMPPS staff, the IAPDC published a report setting out that some form of assessment should be immediately implemented.

Read the report: A proposal for embedding staff and prisoner safety in all major decisions (September 2019)

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Indeterminate prison sentences and their risks

The IAPDC published a report which sets out public health concerns about the impact on the mental and physical health of people continuing to serve a indeterminate for public protection (IPP) sentence. The report focuses on the particular vulnerabilities of this cohort given the close links between hopelessness, self-harm and suicide, and presents ways in which these concerns can be addressed.

Read the report: Intermediate sentences for public protection (IPPs): preventing self-harm and deaths in custody (June 2019)

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Use of PAVA spray in prison

In October 2018 the IAPDC wrote to HMPPS expressing concerns about proposals to roll out out PAVA incapacitant sprays to all male category A-D prisons to help keep prison officers safe and better maintain control when difficult situations arise.

• Justice Secretary response to IAPDC (August 2020)
• Letter to Justice Secretary (July 2020)
• Prisons Minister response to IAPDC (December 2018)

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Preventing the deaths of women in prison

In response to the 12 self-inflicted deaths in women’s prisons in England in 2016, and in order to prevent further deaths, at the end of December 2016 the IAPDC collated information from the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody, the Advisory Board on Female Offenders and IAPDC stakeholders for their views on how best to prevent suicide and self-harm and keep women safe.

Read the report: Preventing the Deaths of Women in Prison – initial results of a rapid information gathering exercise by the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (March 2017)

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The Harris Review

In February 2014 the Justice Secretary announced an independent review into self-inflicted deaths in custody of 18-24 year olds (the Harris Review). The Review was chaired by Lord Toby Harris and lasted between April 2014 and March 2015.  The purpose of the Review was to make recommendations to reduce the risk of future self-inflicted deaths in custody. 

Read the report: The Harris Review (July 2015)

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Article 2 Compliant Investigations

The reports of independent investigations into incidents of serious self-harm and serious assaults in prison custody, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Justice in accordance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, are published here.

Article 2 Compliant Investigations

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