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<p>The Government publishes statistics on deaths in custody quarterly, and updated
detailed tables annually. The most recent tables were published on 26 January 2018
and cover the year to the end of December 2017.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2017</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total<sup>1,2</sup></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>215</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>243</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>257</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>354</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>295</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Self-inflicted</p></td><td><p>76</p></td><td><p>89</p></td><td><p>90</p></td><td><p>122</p></td><td><p>70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Natural
Causes</p></td><td><p>131</p></td><td><p>145</p></td><td><p>147</p></td><td><p>204</p></td><td><p>184</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Homicide</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other<sup>3</sup></p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>of
which</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>Other/Non-natural</em></p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>Awaiting
further information</em></p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>(1)
All classifications of deaths remain provisional until confirmed at inquest.</p><p>(2)
Figures include incidents at HMPPS run Immigration Removal Centres.</p><p>(3) A proportion
of the most recent two years' figures for 'other' deaths are expected to be re-classified
as natural causes or self-inflicted deaths.</p><p> </p><p>The Government takes very
seriously its responsibility to keep prisoners safe, and while the latest figures
show a welcome fall in the number of deaths in total and self-inflicted deaths in
particular, we can and must do more. We have established a prison safety programme
through which we are taking forward a comprehensive set of actions to reduce deaths
in custody, including: rolling out revised and improved training for staff in assessing
and managing the risk of suicide and self-harm amongst prisoners (which has already
reached nearly 15,000 staff); improving support for prisoners in their early days
in custody; revising the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork case management
process for those identified as being at risk; and renewing our partnership with the
Samaritans by confirming a further three years' grant funding for their valuable Listeners
Scheme.</p>
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