Source · Deaths in custody

PPO Fatal Incident Reports

6,395 incidents 5,660 published 1,165 recommendations 1,632 self-inflicted 3,362 natural causes

Deaths in custody investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. 26% of deaths are self-inflicted. Source: PPO.

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Learning & thematic publications

74 cross-establishment publications

Learning Lessons Bulletins (50), thematic reviews (2), consultation responses (11), Policy into Practice (5) and annual reports (6): the systemic patterns the Ombudsman draws from many investigations.

TitleTypeDateSource
PPO response to JSC Inquiry into Children and Young Adults in the Secure Estate  Consultation response Jun 2026 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 21: Segregation Learning Lessons Bulletin Mar 2026 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 22: Self-inflicted deaths in reception prisons Learning Lessons Bulletin Mar 2026 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 20: Epilepsy Learning Lessons Bulletin Nov 2025 PDF
Annual Report 2024 to 2025 Annual report Jul 2025 PDF
Policy into Practice: Handling of prisoners’ property Policy into Practice Mar 2025 PDF
Policy into Practice: Handling of property complaints Policy into Practice Mar 2025 PDF
Complaints Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 11: Property complaints Learning Lessons Bulletin Mar 2025 PDF
PPO response to JSC Tackling Drugs in Prison Inquiry Consultation response Feb 2025 PDF
PPO response to JHAC Inquiry into Prison Culture Consultation response Feb 2025 PDF
PPO response to JSC inquiry into Rehabilitation and Resettlement Consultation response Feb 2025 PDF
Policy into Practice: Emergency Response Policy into Practice Jan 2025 PDF
PPO response to the Independent Sentencing Review 2024/25 call for evidence Consultation response Jan 2025 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 19: Post-release death investigations 2 Learning Lessons Bulletin Jul 2024 PDF
Annual Report 2023-24 Annual report Jul 2024 PDF
Annual report 2022-23 Annual report Jul 2024 PDF
Policy into practice: Use of force Policy into Practice Feb 2024 PDF
PPO response to the inquiry into prison population and capacity Consultation response Nov 2023 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 18: Self-inflicted deaths of IPP prisoners Learning Lessons Bulletin Sep 2023 PDF
Investigating deaths after release from prison – a pilot evaluation Learning Lessons Bulletin Jan 2023 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 17: Post-release death investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Jan 2023 PDF
PPO response to the inquiry into the Prison Operational Workforce Consultation response Jan 2023 PDF
Annual Report 2021-22 Annual report Oct 2022 PDF
Policy into Practice: Use of restraints on escort Policy into Practice Sep 2022 PDF
PPO Response to the Inquiry into IPP sentences Consultation response Jan 2022 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 16: Second wave COVID-19 related deaths Learning Lessons Bulletin Dec 2021 PDF
Annual Report 2020-21 Annual report Sep 2021 PDF
PPO responses to the Inquiry into Women in Prison Consultation response Aug 2021 PDF
Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 15: COVID-19 PPO fatal incident investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Feb 2021 PDF
Complaints Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 10: COVID-19 PPO Complaints Learning Lessons Bulletin Dec 2020 PDF

Incidents

82 records
Name Establishment Cause Status Date of death Recs
Roy Anderson HMP Ranby Natural Published 10 Mar 2025 2
Brian Kemp HMP Fosse Way Natural Published 26 Jan 2025 3
Alex Davies HMP/YOI Styal Self-inflicted Published 24 Dec 2024 2
David Austin HMP Long Lartin Natural Published 1 Dec 2024 2
Alexander Corbett Fleming House Approved Premises Self-inflicted Published 23 Aug 2024 4
Eric Stringer HMP Wormwood Scrubs Natural Published 23 Aug 2024 4
Patrick Whiting Fleming House Approved Premises Natural Published 26 Jul 2024 1
Ming Jiang HMP Swaleside Natural Published 21 Jul 2024 4
Stephen Wallwork HMP Forest Bank Unascertained Published 10 Jul 2024 1
Michael Pugh HMP Swaleside Self-inflicted Published 29 Jun 2024 3
Tony King HMP Swaleside Natural Published 18 Jun 2024 2
Matthew Scott HMP Lincoln Other Published 17 Jun 2024 1
Igor Vujkovic HMP Maidstone Natural Published 11 May 2024 4
Richard Cosgrove HMP Humber Other Published 18 Apr 2024 2
Mark Johnston HMP Swansea Other Published 7 Apr 2024 2
Stephen Smith HMP Liverpool Natural Published 24 Mar 2024 2
Barry Rossiter HMP Northumberland Natural Published 23 Mar 2024 2
Edward Hands HMP Bedford Other Published 16 Feb 2024 4
David Smith HMP Northumberland Other Published 8 Feb 2024 1
Kevin Kane HMP Grendon Self-inflicted Published 29 Jan 2024 3
Daniel Fielding HMP Liverpool Self-inflicted Published 19 Jan 2024 6
Scott Walker HMP Full Sutton Natural Published 22 Dec 2023 1
Jamie Funnell HMP Lewes Other Published 16 Dec 2023 3
Martin Collins HMP Highpoint Self-inflicted Published 25 Nov 2023 1
Sidney Hughes HMP Wymott Natural Published 24 Nov 2023 2
Davey Price HMP Forest Bank Self-inflicted Published 27 Oct 2023 3
Ricky Crosher HMP Lowdham Grange Self-inflicted Published 11 Oct 2023 3
Carl Bennett HMP Oakwood Natural Published 25 Aug 2023 2
Mark Apperley HMP Long Lartin Natural Published 7 Aug 2023 1
Dean Hood HMP Nottingham Other Published 22 Jul 2023 1
Samuel Stewart HMP Wormwood Scrubs Other Published 15 Jul 2023 1
Amy Cross HMP/YOI Eastwood Park Other Published 10 Jun 2023 2
Kirsten Hocking HMP/YOI Downview Other Published 24 May 2023 2
Michael Kinnear HMP Wymott Natural Published 11 May 2023 1
Steven Blake HMP Haverigg Self-inflicted Published 28 Apr 2023 2
Frank Ospina Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre Self-inflicted Published 26 Mar 2023 4
Michael Tucker HMP Wayland Self-inflicted Published 22 Mar 2023 2
Lee Walker Clarks House Approved Premises Other Published 13 Mar 2023 1
Keith Gadd HMP Bristol Self-inflicted Published 9 Mar 2023 2
Christopher Corkill Isle of Man Self-inflicted Published 24 Feb 2023 15
Reece Godward HMP Leeds Self-inflicted Published 23 Feb 2023 2
Jamie Andrews HMP Bristol Natural Published 4 Dec 2022 2
John Eyre HMP Swaleside Natural Published 20 Nov 2022 1
Ian Kettles HMP Bristol Self-inflicted Published 11 Nov 2022 4
Russell Irvine HMP Durham Self-inflicted Published 7 Nov 2022 5
Colin Lovett HMP The Verne Self-inflicted Published 29 Oct 2022 4
Anderson Barker HMP Peterborough Natural Published 21 Oct 2022 2
John Warry HMP Stafford Natural Published 25 Sep 2022 10
Christopher Keeling HMP/YOI Doncaster Self-inflicted Published 18 Sep 2022 3
Lisa Sherrington HMP/YOI Low Newton Natural Published 26 Aug 2022 1