Source · Deaths in custody
PPO Fatal Incident Reports
6,488 incidents
5,759 published
1,642 recommendations
1,658 self-inflicted
3,411 natural causes
Deaths in custody investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. 26% of deaths are self-inflicted. Source: PPO.
Top recommendation themes
Learning & thematic publications
| Title | Type | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Report 2025 to 2026 | Annual report | Jul 2026 | |
| PPO response to JSC Inquiry into Children and Young Adults in the Secure Estate | Consultation response | Jun 2026 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 21: Segregation | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Mar 2026 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 22: Self-inflicted deaths in reception prisons | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Mar 2026 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 20: Epilepsy | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Nov 2025 | |
| Annual Report 2024 to 2025 | Annual report | Jul 2025 | |
| Policy into Practice: Handling of property complaints | Policy into Practice | Mar 2025 | |
| Policy into Practice: Handling of prisoners’ property | Policy into Practice | Mar 2025 | |
| Complaints Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 11: Property complaints | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Mar 2025 | |
| PPO response to JHAC Inquiry into Prison Culture | Consultation response | Feb 2025 | |
| PPO response to JSC inquiry into Rehabilitation and Resettlement | Consultation response | Feb 2025 | |
| PPO response to JSC Tackling Drugs in Prison Inquiry | Consultation response | Feb 2025 | |
| Policy into Practice: Emergency Response | Policy into Practice | Jan 2025 | |
| PPO response to the Independent Sentencing Review 2024/25 call for evidence | Consultation response | Jan 2025 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 19: Post-release death investigations 2 | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Jul 2024 | |
| Annual Report 2023-24 | Annual report | Jul 2024 | |
| Annual report 2022-23 | Annual report | Jul 2024 | |
| Policy into practice: Use of force | Policy into Practice | Feb 2024 | |
| PPO response to the inquiry into prison population and capacity | Consultation response | Nov 2023 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 18: Self-inflicted deaths of IPP prisoners | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Sep 2023 | |
| Investigating deaths after release from prison – a pilot evaluation | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Jan 2023 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 17: Post-release death investigations | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Jan 2023 | |
| PPO response to the inquiry into the Prison Operational Workforce | Consultation response | Jan 2023 | |
| Annual Report 2021-22 | Annual report | Oct 2022 | |
| Policy into Practice: Use of restraints on escort | Policy into Practice | Sep 2022 | |
| PPO Response to the Inquiry into IPP sentences | Consultation response | Jan 2022 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 16: Second wave COVID-19 related deaths | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Dec 2021 | |
| Annual Report 2020-21 | Annual report | Sep 2021 | |
| PPO responses to the Inquiry into Women in Prison | Consultation response | Aug 2021 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 15: COVID-19 PPO fatal incident investigations | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Feb 2021 |
Incidents
| Name | Establishment | Cause | Status | Date of death | Recs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual at Chelmsford | HMP Chelmsford | Self-inflicted | Published | 4 Mar 2008 | — |
| Individual at Isle of Wight | HMP Isle of Wight | Natural | Published | 3 Mar 2008 | — |
| Individual at Dovegate | HMP Dovegate | Natural | Published | 3 Mar 2008 | — |
| Individual at Exeter | HMP Exeter | Natural | Published | 28 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Hull | HMP Hull | Natural | Published | 25 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Isle of Wight | HMP Isle of Wight | Natural | Published | 25 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Lincoln | HMP Lincoln | Self-inflicted | Published | 24 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at St Josephs | St Josephs | Natural | Published | 21 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Birmingham | HMP Birmingham | Natural | Published | 20 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Peterborough Magistrates Court | Peterborough Magistrates Court | Other | Published | 20 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Wandsworth | HMP Wandsworth | Natural | Published | 18 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Elmley | HMP Elmley | Natural | Published | 17 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Chelmsford | HMP Chelmsford | Self-inflicted | Published | 12 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Victoria House | Victoria House | Natural | Published | 12 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Leeds | HMP Leeds | Natural | Published | 9 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Brixton | HMP Brixton | Natural | Published | 7 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Stafford | HMP Stafford | Natural | Published | 6 Feb 2008 | — |
| Individual at Lowdham Grange | HMP Lowdham Grange | Natural | Published | 26 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Acklington | HMP Acklington | Natural | Published | 25 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Acklington | HMP Acklington | Natural | Published | 25 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Styal | HMP Styal | Self-inflicted | Published | 23 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Wormwood Scrubs | HMP Wormwood Scrubs | Self-inflicted | Published | 20 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Holbeck | Holbeck | Self-inflicted | Published | 15 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Littlehey | HMP Littlehey | Natural | Published | 15 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Durham | HMP Durham | Natural | Published | 13 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Whitemoor | HMP Whitemoor | Natural | Published | 13 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Kirklevington Grange | HMP Kirklevington Grange | Natural | Published | 12 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Manchester | HMP Manchester | Self-inflicted | Published | 11 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Hull | HMP Hull | Natural | Published | 10 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Ealing | Ealing | Self-inflicted | Published | 10 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Ealing | Ealing | Natural | Published | 9 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Chelmsford | HMP Chelmsford | Self-inflicted | Published | 8 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Wakefield | HMP Wakefield | Self-inflicted | Published | 6 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Isle of Wight | HMP Isle of Wight | Natural | Published | 6 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Swaleside | HMP Swaleside | Natural | Published | 2 Jan 2008 | — |
| Individual at Birmingham | HMP Birmingham | Natural | Published | 29 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Durham | HMP Durham | Natural | Published | 27 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Whatton | HMP Whatton | Natural | Published | 26 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Chelmsford | HMP Chelmsford | Self-inflicted | Published | 25 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Birmingham City Hospital | HMP Birmingham City Hospital | Natural | Published | 25 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Nottingham | HMP Nottingham | Self-inflicted | Published | 24 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Braley House | Braley House | Natural | Published | 24 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Lincoln | HMP Lincoln | Self-inflicted | Published | 20 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Holme House | HMP Holme House | Self-inflicted | Published | 20 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Reading | HMP Reading | Self-inflicted | Published | 19 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Ascot House | Ascot House | Self-inflicted | Published | 13 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Garth | HMP Garth | Natural | Published | 13 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at High Down | HMP High Down | Self-inflicted | Published | 11 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Holloway | HMP Holloway | Other | Published | 10 Dec 2007 | — |
| Individual at Whitemoor | HMP Whitemoor | Self-inflicted | Published | 10 Dec 2007 | — |