Source · Deaths in custody
PPO Fatal Incident Reports
6,470 incidents
5,745 published
1,502 recommendations
1,653 self-inflicted
3,404 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 prisoners’ property | Policy into Practice | Mar 2025 | |
| Policy into Practice: Handling of property complaints | Policy into Practice | Mar 2025 | |
| Complaints Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 11: Property complaints | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Mar 2025 | |
| PPO response to JSC inquiry into Rehabilitation and Resettlement | Consultation response | Feb 2025 | |
| PPO response to JHAC Inquiry into Prison Culture | 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 2022-23 | Annual report | Jul 2024 | |
| Annual Report 2023-24 | 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 | |
| Fatal Incident Investigations Learning Lessons Bulletin Issue 17: Post-release death investigations | Learning Lessons Bulletin | Jan 2023 | |
| Investigating deaths after release from prison – a pilot evaluation | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Fletcher | HMP Hewell | Natural | Published | — | 5 |
| John Chapman | HMP Gartree | Natural | Published | — | 2 |
| James Bell | HMP Forest Bank | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 2 |
| Joseph Murphy | HMP Liverpool | Natural | Published | — | 1 |
| Peter Hopkins | HMP/YOI Doncaster | Natural | Published | — | 4 |
| Colin Storr | HMP Durham | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 4 |
| Uziel Mendoza-Sillerico | HMP Lowdham Grange | Natural | Published | — | 10 |
| Jake O’Brien | HMP Forest Bank | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 12 |
| Paul Smyth | HMP Altcourse | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 4 |
| Malcolm James | HMP/YOI Parc | Natural | Published | — | 2 |
| Andrew Cox | HMP Guys Marsh | Other | Published | — | 4 |
| Paul Deville | HMP Manchester | Natural | Published | — | 2 |
| Nezam Ghalate | HMP Manchester | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 3 |
| John McGovern | HMP The Verne | Natural | Published | — | 3 |
| Imran Khan | HMP Isle of Wight | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 10 |
| Frazer Williams | HMP Guys Marsh | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 9 |
| Henry Benoi-Davies | HMP Nottingham | Natural | Published | — | 5 |
| Benjamin Harrison | HMP Rochester | Other | Published | — | 5 |
| David Ogden | HMP Forest Bank | Self-inflicted | Published | — | 2 |
| 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 |
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