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<p>The government is committed to open and transparent reporting of deaths in custody
and publish statistics on deaths in prison custody in England and Wales quarterly
in the National Statistics “Safety in Custody” bulletin. This statistical series can
be found at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The number of (i) deaths in prison custody and year-on-year change is presented
in table 1. The number of (ii) self-inflicted deaths in prison custody and year-on-year
change is presented in table 2.</p><p>Figures are provided for England and Wales only.
Figures are not published by the Ministry of Justice for other areas of the United
Kingdom as the judicial systems are a devolved matter for the respective administrations.</p><p>
</p><p>In 2013 there were 2.55 deaths per 1,000 prisoners and between 2008 and 2013
less than 1 prisoner in every 1,000 died from a self-inflicted death. The rate of
self-inflicted deaths was consistently above 1 death per 1,000 prisoners between 1993
and 2005, peaking at 1.4 self-inflicted deaths per 1,000 prisoners in 1999.</p><p>
</p><p>Table 1: Number of deaths and year-on-year percentage change of deaths in prison
custody</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>Year-on-year
change (%)</p></td><td><p>Death rate per 1,000 prisoners</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>208</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>2.79</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>175</p></td><td><p>-16%</p></td><td><p>2.30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>153</p></td><td><p>-13%</p></td><td><p>1.96</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>185</p></td><td><p>21%</p></td><td><p>2.30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>166</p></td><td><p>-10%</p></td><td><p>2.01</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>169</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td><td><p>2.02</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>198</p></td><td><p>17%</p></td><td><p>2.34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>192</p></td><td><p>-3%</p></td><td><p>2.24</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>192</p></td><td><p>0%</p></td><td><p>2.23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>215</p></td><td><p>12%</p></td><td><p>2.55</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>Table 2: Number of self-inflicted deaths and year-on-year percentage change
of self-inflicted deaths in prison custody</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>Year-on-year
change (%)</p></td><td><p>Self-inflicted deaths per 1,000 prisoners</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>96</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>1.29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>78</p></td><td><p>-19%</p></td><td><p>1.03</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>66</p></td><td><p>-15%</p></td><td><p>0.84</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>92</p></td><td><p>39%</p></td><td><p>1.14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>-34%</p></td><td><p>0.74</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>0%</p></td><td><p>0.73</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>58</p></td><td><p>-5%</p></td><td><p>0.68</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>57</p></td><td><p>-2%</p></td><td><p>0.66</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td><td><p>0.70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>74</p></td><td><p>23%</p></td><td><p>0.88</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>Reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in custody is a key priority –
we are working hard to understand the reasons for the recent rise in self-inflicted
deaths. But this is a complex issue and there is no simple explanation for the rise.
<br><br>All deaths are subject to investigation by the police and the Prisons and
Probation Ombudsman and a Coroner’s inquest, and strenuous efforts are made to learn
lessons from these processes.</p><p> </p><p>All prisons have procedures to identify,
manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves. Prisoners at risk
are subject to individual case management and receive support from prison staff, supplemented,
where appropriate, by input from mental health services and a range of other sources
such as peer supporters and the Samaritans.</p><p> </p><p>There is strong oversight
of deaths in custody through the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody, which includes
an Independent Advisory Panel that has recently been commissioned by the Secretary
of State to conduct an independent review of deaths of 18-24 year olds in prison custody
since 2007 to report by spring 2015. This will help identify learning points that
can be applied across all age groups.</p><p> </p><p>Additional resources and support
are being provided for safer custody work in prisons and in particular to improve
the consistency of the application of the case management system for prisoners identified
as at risk of self harm or suicide.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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