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 Low Newton | HMP Low Newton | Self-inflicted | Published | 16 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Wayland | HMP Wayland | Natural | Published | 13 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Altcourse | HMP Altcourse | Natural | Published | 12 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Humber | HMP Humber | Natural | Published | 12 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Bullingdon | HMP Bullingdon | Self-inflicted | Published | 11 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Peterborough | HMP Peterborough | Homicide | Published | 9 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Leyhill | HMP Leyhill | Natural | Published | 8 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Nottingham | HMP Nottingham | Homicide | Published | 3 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Staitheford House | Staitheford House | Other | Published | 3 Dec 2015 | — |
| Individual at Lindholme | HMP Lindholme | Other | Published | 30 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Highpoint | HMP Highpoint | Self-inflicted | Published | 28 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Woodhill | HMP Woodhill | Self-inflicted | Published | 27 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Dartmoor | HMP Dartmoor | Homicide | Published | 26 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Stocken | HMP Stocken | Self-inflicted | Published | 25 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Wandsworth | HMP Wandsworth | Natural | Published | 20 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Wandsworth | HMP Wandsworth | Self-inflicted | Published | 19 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Exeter | HMP Exeter | Self-inflicted | Published | 18 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Isle of Wight | HMP Isle of Wight | Natural | Published | 16 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Victoria House | Victoria House | Natural | Published | 15 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Leeds | HMP Leeds | Self-inflicted | Published | 13 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Glen Parva | HMP Glen Parva | Self-inflicted | Published | 12 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Full Sutton | HMP Full Sutton | Natural | Published | 12 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Humber | HMP Humber | Natural | Published | 11 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Dartmoor | HMP Dartmoor | Natural | Published | 10 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Pentonville | HMP Pentonville | Self-inflicted | Published | 9 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Swaleside | HMP Swaleside | Self-inflicted | Published | 9 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Bedford | HMP Bedford | Natural | Published | 7 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Moorland Closed | HMP Moorland Closed | Natural | Published | 6 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Highfield House | Highfield House | Self-inflicted | Published | 3 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Grendon | HMP Grendon | Natural | Published | 3 Nov 2015 | — |
| Individual at Bure | HMP Bure | Natural | Published | 31 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Lowdham Grange | HMP Lowdham Grange | Other | Published | 31 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Isle of Wight | HMP Isle of Wight | Natural | Published | 29 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Full Sutton | HMP Full Sutton | Natural | Published | 29 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Swaleside | HMP Swaleside | Natural | Published | 28 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Cardiff | HMP Cardiff | Self-inflicted | Published | 27 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Durham | HMP Durham | Natural | Published | 21 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Low Newton | HMP Low Newton | Natural | Published | 20 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Lewes | HMP Lewes | Natural | Published | 19 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Preston | HMP Preston | Natural | Published | 14 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Altcourse | HMP Altcourse | Natural | Published | 13 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Wakefield | HMP Wakefield | Natural | Published | 12 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Winchester | HMP Winchester | Natural | Published | 12 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Isle of Wight | HMP Isle of Wight | Natural | Published | 6 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Coldingley | HMP Coldingley | Natural | Published | 6 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Exeter | HMP Exeter | Natural | Published | 5 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Stoke Heath | HMP Stoke Heath | Natural | Published | 4 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Chelmsford | HMP Chelmsford | Self-inflicted | Published | 4 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Frankland | HMP Frankland | Natural | Published | 2 Oct 2015 | — |
| Individual at Bullingdon | HMP Bullingdon | Self-inflicted | Published | 1 Oct 2015 | — |