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<p>Deaths recorded by prison are published as part of our Safety in Custody statistics,
updated quarterly, and available in the Deaths Data Tool at the following link: <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-september-2023"
target="_blank">Safety in custody: quarterly update to September 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p><p>Please
note that deaths at Wandsworth are currently published from 30 June 2023 – end of
December 2023. Figures to the end of March 2024 are not due for publication until
April 2024 and cannot be released at this time.</p><p>Deaths in prison custody figures
include all deaths of prisoners arising from incidents during prison custody. They
include deaths of prisoners while released on temporary license (ROTL) for medical
reasons but exclude other types of ROTL where the state has less direct responsibility.</p><p>In
addition to deaths in prison custody which occur in hospitals, hospices or nursing
homes, a small proportion will occur while in an ambulance on the way to hospital,
while the prisoner is under escort.</p><p>Every death in custody is a tragedy and
we continue to do all we can to improve the safety of prisoners.</p><p>We have implemented
a revised version of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) case management
approach across the prison estate. Revisions in ACCT v6 include a stronger emphasis
on taking a person-centred approach; better multi-disciplinary team working; a consistent
quality assurance process and an improved focus on identifying and addressing an individual’s
risks, triggers and protective factors.</p><p>We are implementing a new safety training
package for staff. It brings together related safety topics, including suicide and
self-harm prevention and understanding risks, triggers and protective factors.</p><p>We
fund Samaritans through a grant providing total funding of just under £2 million between
2022 and 2025. This is primarily for the delivery of the Listener scheme (through
which selected prisoners are trained to provide support to fellow prisoners in emotional
distress).</p><p>We have also worked with Samaritans to develop a postvention response
to providing support in the period following a self-inflicted death in order to reduce
the risk of further deaths. This has been successfully piloted and the renewed grant
includes funding for this service to be maintained until March 2025.</p>
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