Safety in custody bulletin
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Safety in Custody. Data on assaults, self-harm and assaults in prisons in England and Wales. Headline figures produced quarterly with more detailed figures produced annually in April.

Safety in Custody Statistics 
England and Wales 
Deaths in prison custody to 
December 2014  
Assaults and Self-harm to 
September 2014 
 
 
Ministry of Justice  
Statistics bulletin 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29 January 2015 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Contents 
 
 
 
Introduction .........................................................................................................................- 3 - 
 
Key findings ........................................................................................................................- 6 - 
 
Deaths in custody ...............................................................................................................- 7 - 
 
Self-harm ..........................................................................................................................- 16 - 
 
Assaults ............................................................................................................................- 20 - 
 
References........................................................................................................................- 25 - 
 
List of tables and figures...................................................................................................- 26 - 
 
Data Sources and Data Quality ........................................................................................- 28 - 
 
Explanatory notes .............................................................................................................- 28 - 
 
Contact points...................................................................................................................- 29 - 
 
 
 
 
- 2 -

Introduction 
 
Safety in custody statistics cover deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody in 
England and Wales. This publication updates statistics on assaults and self-harm up to 
September 2014 and statistics on deaths in prison custody up to December 2014. 
Supplementary tables, providing more in depth statistics on deaths, self-harm and assaults 
on a calendar year basis, are also available alongside this bulletin and can be found at 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics.  
 
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National 
Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying 
compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.  
 
Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:  
• meet identified user needs;  
• are well explained and readily accessible;  
• are produced according to sound methods; and  
• are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.  
 
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that 
the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed. 
 
In interpreting the statistics contained within this bulletin, users are recommended to read 
with it the accompanying ‘Guide to Safety in Custody Statistics1’ that includes technical and 
background information on the production of these statistics, and more information on data 
quality.  
 
When considering particular statistics, readers should note the following:  
 
 
 
Risk of death, self-harm or assaults is distributed unevenly around the prison estate. 
Age, gender and time in custody and random variation, explain many of the 
differences between prisons and particular risk groups.  
 
 
In prisons, as in the community, self-harm is often covert and assaults may go 
unreported. In prison custody, however, such incidents are more likely to be detected 
and counted. Recording of self-harm and assault incidents in prison custody has 
improved over the years but it remains the case that they cannot be counted with 
absolute accuracy.  
 
Although this publication concerns statistics, the incidents described in this report are, by 
their nature, tragic and distressing to the prisoners, their families and staff.  
 
From time to time, events in prison custody and developments within and outside NOMS 
have changed the way safety in prisons is viewed and managed. Some have resulted in 
changes to the way offenders are managed. Others have affected the way statistics are 
collected and reported. The accompanying guide includes a timeline summarising some of 
the key events and developments that have affected safety in prison custody and supporting 
statistics. These help with interpretation of longer term trends.  
 
Changes and revisions in this publication 
This publication has updated figures on deaths to the end of 2014, including a review on all 
deaths awaiting further information.  
                                                 
1 Guide to Safety in Custody Statistics www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics  
 
- 3 -

 
Data for self-harm incidents has been updated back to October 2013 increasing the number 
of incidents in the period October 2013 to June 2014 by approximately 160. This update to 
the underlying data will not be reflected in the annual supplementary tables until they are 
updated with the 2014 data in the release due in April 2015 but have been reflected in the 
quarterly and rolling 12 month figures in this bulletin. 
 
Users and uses of these Statistics 
The cost of deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody, in both human and financial 
terms is high. This report adds to the body of learning in this area and supports work to 
prevent such tragedies in future. The contents support a wide range of operational and 
strategic decisions including:  
 
 
Management of risk;  
 
Deployment of staff (identification of high risk periods and locations etc.); 
 
Design of prison cells (identification and reduction of ligature points); 
 
Assessment of changes in sentencing and other policies affecting prisoners.  
 
The statistics included in this publication are used extensively and meet a broad spectrum of 
user needs as shown below. 
User 
Summary of main statistical needs 
MOJ Ministers 
Use the statistics to monitor the safety and wellbeing of the prison 
population; assess policy impacts (e.g. changes to managing 
vulnerable prisoners) 
MPs and House of 
Lords 
Statistics are frequently used to answer parliamentary questions  
Policy teams 
Statistics are used to inform policy development, to monitor 
impact of changes over time and to model future changes and 
their impact on the system 
Agencies responsible 
for offender 
management 
 
Current and historical robust administrative data are used to 
support performance management information at national and 
local levels to complement their understanding of the current 
picture and trends over time 
Academia, students 
and businesses 
Used as a source of statistics for research purposes and to 
support lectures, presentations and conferences 
Journalists 
Used as a compendium of robust data on safety in custody so that 
an accurate and coherent story can be told on the safety of the 
prison environment. 
Voluntary sector 
Data are used to monitor trends of the safety and wellbeing of 
prisoners, to reuse the data in their own briefing and research 
papers and to inform policy work and responses to consultations. 
General public 
Data are used to respond to ad-hoc requests and requests made 
under the Freedom of Information Act.  Recent requests include 
number of deaths, self-harm and assaults in prisons. 
 
NOMS regularly receives requests for statistics for more recent, or different, date periods 
than those covered in published statistics. In accordance with the Code of Practice for 
Official Statistics, NOMS is generally unable to release statistics for periods beyond those 
published in Official Statistics publications. 
 
 
 
- 4 -

Related publications 
This bulletin is published alongside two inter-related bulletins:  
 
Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin2: This provides key statistics relating 
to offenders who are in prison or under Probation Service supervision. It covers flows into 
these services (receptions into prison or probation starts) and flows out (discharges from 
prison or probation terminations) as well as the caseload of both services at specific points in 
time. 
 
Proven Re-offending Statistics Quarterly3: This provides proven re-offending figures for 
offenders who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction at court, 
received a caution, reprimand, warning or tested positive for opiates or cocaine.  
 
Taken together, these publications present users with a more coherent overview of offender 
management, re-offending among both adults and young people and the safety of offenders 
whilst in prison custody. 
 
Release Schedule 
This bulletin was published on 29 January 2014 and includes statistics covering 12-month 
periods to end of September 2014 for self-harm and assaults and 12 month periods to end of 
December 2014 for deaths.  
 
The next publication of Safety in Custody statistics is scheduled to be published on 30 April 
2015, covering 12-month periods to end of December 2014 for assaults and self-harm and 
March 2015 for deaths in prison custody. 
                                                 
2 Offender Management Statistics www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly  
3 Proven Reoffending Statistics www.gov.uk/government/collections/proven-reoffending-statistics  
 
 
- 5 -

Key findings 
 
Table 1: Safety in Custody Summary Statistics, England and Wales 
 
Dec 05
Dec 06
Dec 07
Dec 08
Dec 09
Dec 10
Dec 11
Dec 12
Dec 13
Dec 14
Total deaths1
175
153
185
166
169
198
192
192
215
243
Self-inflicted
78
66
91
61
61
58
58
61
75
84
Natural Causes
89
83
89
99
104
126
122
123
131
141
Homicide
3
0
1
3
0
1
2
0
4
3
Other2
5
4
4
3
4
13
10
8
5
Sep 05
Sep 06
Sep 07
Sep 08
Sep 09
Sep 10
Sep 11
Sep 12
Sep 13
Sep 14
Self-harm incidents1
23,508
23,448
23,228
24,119
24,471
26,721
25,166
23,305
23,240
24,748
Males
10,277
11,534
12,004
11,924
13,224
14,314
15,480
16,240
17,221
18,068
Females
13,231
11,914
11,224
12,195
11,247
12,407
9,686
7,065
6,019
6,680
Assault incidents1
14,004
14,926
15,298
15,896
15,363
14,508
15,088
14,965
14,207
15,763
Males
13,020
13,719
14,283
14,949
14,594
13,848
14,416
14,367
13,697
15,206
Females
984
1,207
1,015
947
769
660
672
598
510
557
1.Data includes incidents at NOMS run Immigration Removal Centres
12 months ending
2. ‘Other’ deaths include accidental and other difficult to classify deaths including those for which further information is 
awaited.  A minority of the most recent two years figures are expected to be reclassified as natural causes. 
12 months ending
15
 
 
 
The number of deaths in prison custody increased to 243 in 2014 from 215 in 2013. The 
death rate increased to 2.9 deaths per 1,000 prisoners compared with 2.6 the previous 
year. This increase is as a result of an increase in both natural cause and self-inflicted 
deaths. 
 
 
Self-inflicted deaths increased to 84 in 2014 from 75 in 2013; the second calendar year 
there has been a year-on-year increase. On a rolling 12 month basis self-inflicted deaths 
have been higher in each quarter than in the same quarter in any year since 2007. 
Quarterly figures remain volatile with the most recent quarter (October to December) 
experiencing a higher than usual number of self-inflicted deaths. The rate of self-inflicted 
deaths was 1.0 deaths per 1,000 prisoners up from 0.9 deaths per 1,000 a year earlier. 
 
 
The number of self-harm incidents has increased to 24,748 incidents in the 12 months to 
end of September 2014, compared with 23,240 in the previous 12 month period. Self-
harm in the male estate continues to increase with 18,068 incidents in the 12 months to 
September 2014, an increase of 847 incidents on the same period a year earlier. Self-
harm in the female estate has also increased, ending 3 years of year-on-year falls.  
 
 
The number of incidents of recorded assaults (including fights) in prison custody has 
increased to 15,763 in the 12 months to the end of September 2014 compared with 
14,207 in the 12 months to September 2013.  This increase may be slightly overstated 
due to improvements in reporting of assault incidents.  
 
 
The number of assaults on staff has increased to 3,470 incidents in the 12 months to 
end of September 2014 from 3,178 in the 12 months to end of September 2013, the 
highest number since 2006. The number of serious assaults on staff has increased to 
431 incidents from 328 in the previous year.   
 
- 6 -

1 Deaths in custody  
 
In 2014 there were 243 deaths in prison custody – an increase of 28 from the 
previous year. These deaths comprise of: 
 
84 apparent self-inflicted deaths, up from 75 in the previous year (12% 
increase); 
 
141 deaths due to natural causes, up from 131 in the previous year (8%); 
 
3 apparent homicides, down from 4 in 2013; 
 
15 other deaths, 14 of which are yet to be classified awaiting further 
information. At this stage last year there were 14 deaths awaiting further 
information, of which 10 have since been reclassified. 
A death in prison custody is defined as ‘any death of a person in prison custody arising from 
an incident in or, on rare occasions, immediately prior to prison custody’.  
 
All deaths in prison custody are subject to a police investigation and a coroner’s inquest. 
Once the inquest has been concluded, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s office 
publish a detailed ‘Fatal Incident Report’4 on the death. Until this time, for administrative and 
statistical purposes NOMS classify deaths by apparent cause of death.  
 
Annual supplementary tables published alongside this bulletin5 show that the key population 
factors in determining risk of death in custody are: 
 
Age: Older prisoners are more likely to die of natural causes. Self-inflicted death risk 
varies with the number peaking amongst prisoners in their 30s; 
 
Time in custody: Self-inflicted deaths are more likely in the early stages of custody; 
 
Gender: Female prisoners are less likely to die in custody. 
 
Table 2: Deaths in Custody Summary Statistics, England and Wales 
Dec 05
Dec 06
Dec 07
Dec 08
Dec 09
Dec 10
Dec 11
Dec 12
Dec 13
Dec 14
DEATHS
Deaths in prison custody1 2
175
153
185
166
169
198
192
192
215
243
Self-inflicted
78
66
91
61
61
58
58
61
75
Natural Causes
89
83
89
99
104
126
122
123
131
141
Homicide
3
0
1
3
0
1
2
0
4
Othe
84
3
r3
5
4
4
3
4
13
10
8
5
of which
Other/Non-natural
5
4
4
3
4
13
10
8
4
1
15
Awaiting further information
-
-
-
-
-
0
0
0
1
14
Deaths per 1,000 prisoners
2.3
2.0
2.3
2.0
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.6
2.9
Self-inflicted
1.0
0.8
1.1
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.9
1.0
Natural Causes
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.6
1.7
Deaths by Gender
Male
168
147
177
161
162
190
187
188
209
230
Female
7
6
8
5
7
8
5
4
6
2. Data includes incidents at NOMS run Immigration Removal Centres
1. All classifications of deaths remain provisional until confirmed at inquest.
3. A minority of the most recent two years figures for 'other' deaths are expected to be re-classified as natural causes
12 months ending
13
 
 
As there are a number of deaths yet to be classified it is likely that some will be reclassified 
as natural cause deaths when sufficient information becomes available, and some may be 
reclassified as self-inflicted. For this reason all figures for the last two years are provisional. 
                                                 
4 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman: Fatal Incident Reports www.ppo.gov.uk/prison-investigations.html 
5 Deaths in Custody: Deaths tables at www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics  
 
- 7 -

1.1 Overall mortality 
There were 243 deaths in prison custody in 2014. The majority of deaths in prison custody 
were from natural causes (141 deaths), with self-inflicted deaths making up just over one-
third of deaths. 
 
The 243 deaths in prison custody in 2014 was an increase of 28 on 2013 (figure 1) and is 
the highest number of deaths recorded in a calendar year. This increase has been the result 
of an increase in both natural cause and self-inflicted deaths. More discussion on the 
reasons for these increases follows in the relevant sections below. 
 
Figure 1: Number of deaths in prison custody, 2001 to 2014 (rolling 12 months by 
quarter) 
0
50
100
150
200
250
Dec 00
Jun 01
Dec 01
Jun 02
Dec 02
Jun 03
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
Dec 14
12 months to
Number of deaths
Green bars represent calendar year totals
 
The prison population has increased over the last 10 years and, therefore everything else 
being equal, a corresponding increase in the number of deaths would be expected. The 
death rate better shows the trend in deaths taking into account changes in the size of the 
prison population. Figure 2, shows the death rate increased 2014 to 2.9 deaths per 1,000 
prisoners compared with 2.6 in 2013. This is the second year in which the death rate has 
increased after a period of relative stability.  
 
 
- 8 -

Figure 2: Deaths per 1,000 prisoners by apparent cause, England and Wales (rolling 
12 months, quarterly) 
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Dec 00
Jun 01
Dec 01
Jun 02
Dec 02
Jun 03
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
Dec 14
Number of deaths per 1,000 prisoners
Total deaths
Self-inflicted
Natural causes
Other
 
1.2 Self-inflicted deaths 
 
 
84 self-inflicted deaths in 2014, 9 (12%) more than in 2013. 
 
The rate of self-inflicted deaths increased to 1.0 per 1,000 prisoners, from 0.9 
in the previous year. 
 
Nine-in-ten self-inflicted deaths occur from hanging 
 
3 self-inflicted deaths of females 
Self-inflicted deaths are any death of a person who has apparently taken his or her own life 
irrespective of intent. This not only includes suicides but also accidental deaths as a result of 
the person’s own actions. This classification is used because it is not always known whether 
a person intended to commit suicide.  
 
Self-inflicted deaths increased to 84 in 2014 from 75 in 2013; the second calendar year there 
has been a year-on-year increase. On a rolling 12 month basis self-inflicted deaths have 
been higher for each quarter than in any year since 2007. Quarterly figures remain volatile 
with the most recent quarter (October to December) experiencing a higher than usual 
number of self-inflicted deaths.  
 
The year-on-year increase is the highest calendar year figure since 2007. As figure 3 shows 
an increase in a single year does not necessarily reflect a change in trend, with an increase 
in the number of self-inflicted deaths in 2007 before falling back to trend the following year. 
The highest number of self-inflicted deaths in a calendar year was 96 in 2004. Prior to the 
increase in the last two years, the number of self-inflicted deaths between 2008 and 2012 
was relatively stable at around 60 deaths a year.   
 
 
 
 
- 9 -

Figure 3: Number of apparent self-inflicted deaths in prison custody, rolling 12 month 
totals (quarterly) between December 2000 to December 2014 
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Dec 00
Jun 01
Dec 01
Jun 02
Dec 02
Jun 03
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
Dec 14
12 months to
Number of deaths
Green bars represent calendar year totals
 
The rate of self-inflicted deaths has increased to 1.0 deaths per 1,000 prisoners in 2014 from 
0.9 in 2013 (figure 2). This rate is the highest in a calendar year since 2007, although is 
slightly below the rate in the 12 months to March 2014. Despite the recent increase in the 
rate of self-inflicted deaths it remains lower than the period between 1993 and 2005 when it 
was consistently above 1.0 deaths per 1,000 prisoners. The highest self-inflicted death rate 
in a calendar year was 1.4 deaths per 1,000 prisoners in 1999 (table 1.1 in the deaths 
supplementary tables).  
 
Annual tables 
The annual tables on deaths in prison custody have been updated with this publication to 
include the latest available statistics for deaths in 2014. These will be subject to further 
change as more of the deaths awaiting further information before classification are 
reclassified. 
 
Gender 
81 of the 84 self-inflicted deaths in prison custody were of male prisoners or detainees. 
There were 3 self-inflicted deaths of females. This is an increase of 1 on 2013, but numbers 
remain low and are lower than the number of self-inflicted deaths of females between 2002 
and 2004. 
 
Age 
The age group with the highest number of self-inflicted deaths was the 30 to 39 year old age 
group with 25 deaths, an increase of 6 on 2013. This age group was the only age group with 
a increase of more than 2 in the number of self-inflicted deaths in prison custody in 2014 
compared with the previous year. This age group has frequently had the highest number of 
self-inflicted deaths in prison custody since 1990.  
 
There were 14 deaths in the 18-24 age groups compared with 12 in 2013. This was split by 6 
in the 18 to 20 age group and 8 in the 21 to 24 age group, compared with 5 and 7 
respectively in 2013. There were no self-inflicted deaths by 15 to 17 year olds in 2014. 
 
 
- 10 -

Time in prison 
There was 1 self-inflicted death in prison custody on the day of arrival into prison custody in 
2014, the same level as in 2013. There were 13 deaths in prison custody in the first week of 
prison custody, 1 fewer than in 2013 and 21 self-inflicted deaths in the first 30 days, down 7 
on 2013. Within this the number of deaths on either the first or second day in prison custody 
fell to 4 in 2014 from 8 in 2013. One-third of self-inflicted deaths are by prisoners who have 
been in custody for more than 1 year. 
 
Moving between prisons is also recognised as a risk factor for self-inflicted deaths. There 
were 16 self-inflicted deaths by prisoners in the first week in a new prison, including those in 
prison custody for the first time. This is 1 fewer than in 2013. Six of these sixteen deaths 
were within 2 days of arriving in to the prison, compared with 11 in 2013. 
 
Legal Status 
The majority (58, or 7-in-10) of self-inflicted deaths were of sentenced prisoners, an increase 
of 11 on 2013. The number of self-inflicted deaths by remand prisoners fell to 18 in 2014 
from 24 in 2013. The number of self-inflicted deaths by convicted prisoners awaiting 
sentencing increased to 6 in 2014 compared with 3 in 2013. 2 detainees died from a self-
inflicted death in 2014. 
 
Ethnicity 
Most self-inflicted deaths in prison custody are by white males. In 2014, there were 71 self-
inflicted deaths in prison custody by white prisoners, an increase of 12 on 2013. There were 
3 self-inflicted deaths in each of Asian, black and mixed ethnicity groups, and 4 of other 
ethnicity. This is broadly in line with recent historical numbers. 
 
All self-inflicted deaths by females were of white ethnicity. 
 
Nationality 
There were 71 deaths of UK nationals in 2014, up 5 on 2013. UK nationals accounted for 
85% of self-inflicted deaths in 2014 consistent with recent years; in 8 of the last 10 years 
self-inflicted deaths by UK nationals have accounted for between 85% and 93% of self-
inflicted deaths.   
 
There were 6 self-inflicted deaths of nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA) in 
2014, unchanged from 2013. There were 7 deaths of other foreign nationals in 2014.  
 
Sentence type 
Of those sentenced, the group with the most self-inflicted deaths was of prisoners serving 
determinate sentences of more than 4 years. In this group there were 23 self-inflicted deaths 
in 2014, compared with only 10 in 2013. This number is the highest number in this group this 
century. There were 8 self-inflicted deaths of lifers, broadly consistent with historic numbers 
and 7 self-inflicted deaths of Indeterminate Sentenced for Public Protection (ISPP) prisoners. 
 
Method, ligatures and ligature points 
The most common method of self-inflicted deaths remains hanging with 9-in-10 (78) deaths 
by this method in 2014, consistent with previous years. 
 
There was an increase in deaths by suffocation, with 4 deaths by this method in 2014. 
Historically, there is typically just 1 self-inflicted death by suffocation in any year.  
 
Bedding is the most common item used as a ligature in self-inflicted deaths by hanging. In 
2014 over three-quarters (60) of these deaths bedding was used as the ligature item. This is 
an increase of 14 deaths on 2013 and in an increase in the proportion of self-inflicted deaths 
by hanging using this item. Between 2010 and 2013, 70% of self-inflicted deaths by hanging 
 
- 11 -

used bedding as the ligature. Other ligatures used in 2014 were clothing (3), shoelaces (5) 
and belt (3). 7 other self-inflicted deaths used “other” ligatures – which includes curtains, 
towels and power cords. 
 
The most common ligature point remains the window area, including window bars with 29 
deaths using this as a ligature point in 2014, up from 23 in 2013. This accounts for 
approximately 37% of self-inflicted deaths by hanging in 2014. Although this is a higher 
proportion from the last two years, it is lower than the historical figure where typically at least 
one-half of all self-inflicted deaths by hanging used the window area prior to 2011. In 
contrast to the falling number and proportion of self-inflicted deaths using the window area 
over the longer term, there has been an increase in the number of self-inflicted deaths by 
hanging using the bed as a ligature point in the last two years. In 2014, there were 21 self-
inflicted deaths by hanging that used the bed as a ligature point, up from 3 in 2013. The 
proportion of self-inflicted deaths by hanging using a bed as a ligature point remains 
unchanged at 27% in 2014, compared with 2013. Prior to 2013 the bed was used in fewer 
than one in five self-inflicted deaths by hanging. 
 
By Prison 
There were self-inflicted deaths at 52 establishments in 2014, compared with at 46 
establishments in 2013. The highest number of self-inflicted deaths were at Elmley and 
Wandsworth with 4 self-inflicted deaths each. This is in line with recent years where the 
highest number of self-inflicted deaths at a single prison has been 4 in six of the last eight 
years. The two years where there have been more than 4 self-inflicted deaths at a single 
prison were 2010 when there was 6 deaths at one prison and 2013 where one prison had 5 
deaths. 
 
The number of self-inflicted deaths at individual prisons is volatile and can have sharp 
increases and decreases from one year to the next. The prisons with the highest number of 
self-inflicted deaths in 2013 were Wormwood Scrubs (5), Dovegate (4) and Woodhill (4). All 
these prisons have seen a decrease in the number of self-inflicted deaths in 2014 with 1 self-
inflicted death at Wormwood Scrubs, none at Dovegate and 2 at Woodhill. 
1.3 Natural cause deaths 
 
141 natural cause deaths in 2014, 10 (8%) more than in 2013; 
 
1.7 natural cause deaths per 1,000 prisoners in 2014, up from 1.6 natural cause 
deaths per 1,000 prisoners in the previous year. 
 
Natural cause deaths include any death of a person as a result of a naturally occurring 
disease process.  
 
There were 141 deaths from natural causes in 2014. This figure is likely to increase as it is 
typical for some of the deaths awaiting further information to be reclassified as natural 
causes. The uncertainty on the figures will not be entirely removed until after inquest. The 
current figure is 10 (8%) higher than the number of natural cause deaths in 2013. 
 
Figure 4 shows that natural cause deaths have been on a general upward trend over the last 
decade, albeit with fluctuations between reporting periods. This long term upward trend 
reflects the aging prison population, however in 2014 the continued rise in natural cause 
deaths was mainly due to an increase in deaths attributed to natural causes in younger age 
groups. Calendar year statistics show that as the prison population ages6 the number of 
natural cause deaths of older prisoners has also increased, with 75 of the 141 natural cause 
deaths (53%) in 2014 being of prisoners aged 60 and over. The trend over recent years has 
                                                 
6 Offender Management Statistics www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly 
 
- 12 -

seen an increase in the proportion of natural cause deaths of prisoners aged 60 and over 
from around 37% in 2007.7 
 
Figure 4: Number of apparent natural cause deaths in prison custody, rolling 12 
months December 2000 to December 2014 
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Dec 00
Jun 01
Dec 01
Jun 02
Dec 02
Jun 03
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
Dec 14
12 months to
Number of deaths
Green bars represent calendar year totals
 
 
In 2014 there was an increase in natural cause deaths in younger age groups with 2 natural 
cause deaths of 21 to 24 year olds, 3 of 25 to 29 year olds and 10 of 30 to 39 year olds. This 
compares with figures of 0, 2 and 6 respectively in 2013. 
 
The rate of natural cause deaths has increased to 1.7 deaths per 1,000 prisoners in 2014 
from 1.6 deaths per 1,000 prisoners in 2013.  
 
There has also been an increase in natural cause deaths in females in 2014, with 10 deaths. 
Typically there are 3 or 4 natural cause deaths of females in a year in prison custody. 
1.4 Homicides 
Homicides include any death of a person at the hands of another. This includes murder and 
manslaughter cases. As with self-inflicted deaths, the classification system does not make 
any judgement about intent. 
 
 
3 apparent homicides 2014 compared with 4 in 2013; 
 
Homicides are relatively rare accounting for less than 1% of all deaths in prison custody.  
 
Homicides in prison custody are relatively rare, ranging between 0 and 4 in any year since 
1979. 
 
                                                 
7 Table 3.15, , Safety in Custody update to December 2013 Assault supplementary tables, 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics 
 
- 13 -

Cell-sharing risk assessments were introduced in 2002 with the aim of reducing the risk of 
placing prisoners in cells where they may cause harm to their cell companion. 
1.5 Other deaths 
‘Other’ deaths include any death of a person whose death cannot easily be classified as 
natural causes, self-inflicted or homicide. The category includes accidents and cases where 
the cause of death is unknown even after all of the investigations have been concluded.  
 
There were 15 other deaths in 2014 (6% of all deaths). This number is not directly 
comparable with earlier years as some of the deaths in this category are likely to be 
reclassified (typically as either natural cause or other/non-natural deaths) following inquest. 
However, as a guide, at time of the first publication of 2013 figures there were 14 other 
deaths. 
 
The numbers in this category have increased in recent years due to a number of cases that 
have proved difficult to classify.  
 
 
At first publication of 2013 figures there were 14 deaths awaiting further information, 
of which 1 remains. 8 deaths were reclassified as natural causes, 1 as self-inflicted 
and 4 as other/non-natural. 
 
The majority of deaths for which information is awaited beyond three months are expected to 
be classified as either ‘other/other non-natural’ or natural causes.  
 
Some of the cases in the aggregated ‘other’ category appear to be drug related but there is 
insufficient information to classify any to be self-inflicted. The uncertainty will not be entirely 
removed until after inquest. 
 
 
- 14 -

1.6 Comparison of deaths in prison with those in the general 
population 
 
Figure 5: Annual Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for prison population 
 
0
50
100
150
200
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Standardised Mortality Ratio
 
 
 
The prison population is very different from the general population: 95% of the prison 
population are male, there are no prisoners aged under 15 and relatively few are over 60. As 
a result, rates of deaths in prison custody cannot be compared directly with those for the 
general population. One technique used for comparing mortality rates for different 
populations is known as the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR). 
 
Figure 5 is based on annual data and shows the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for the 
prison population and its 95% confidence interval. It compares overall deaths with those of 
the general population of England and Wales taking into account differences in age and 
gender. If the minimum of the SMR confidence level of the SMR is above 1, then this 
indicates that the mortality rate of the prison population is significantly higher than that of the 
general population. In 2014, the SMR for the prison population was significantly higher than 
the general population with a ratio of 1.40 with a lower bound 95% confidence interval of 
1.23 and an upper bound of 1.50. In seven out of the last ten years, prison mortality has 
been significantly higher than that of the general population. The increase in the ratio in 
2014 compared with 2013 is not significant. 
 
The chart is updated annually on a calendar year basis when the underlying data become 
available. 
 
- 15 -

2  Self-harm  
 
 
In the 12 months to September 2014 there were 
 
24,748 reported incidents of self-harm, up by 1,508 incidents (6%) on the same 
period in 2013 
 
293 self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners, compared with 275 incidents per 
1,000 prisoners in the same period in 2013 (up 7%) 
 
7,465 prisoners reported to have self-harmed in the 12 months to September 
2014, up 509 (7%) on the same period in 2013 
 
89 individuals self-harming per 1,000 prisoners, up by 7 per 1,000 prisoners (9%) 
on the same period in 2013.  
Self-harm in prison custody is defined as, “any act where a prisoner deliberately harms 
themselves irrespective of the method, intent or severity of any injury.” Those who self-harm 
often do so covertly. In the community, such self-harm will often go undetected. In prisons, 
such incidents are more likely to be detected and counted although there will still be 
incidents that are not detected. 
 
Annual statistics suggest the key factors determining the risk of self-harm in custody are:  
 
Age: Younger prisoners are more likely to self-harm than older prisoners8; 
 
Time in custody: A disproportionate amount of self-harm occurs in the early stages of 
custody9. 
 
Gender: Females are more likely to self-harm than males. 
 
Table 3: Self-harm in Custody Summary Statistics, England and Wales 
Sep 05
Sep 06
Sep 07
Sep 08
Sep 09
Sep 10
Sep 11
Sep 12
Sep 13
Sep 14
SELF-HARM
Self-harm incidents1
23,508
23,448
23,228
24,119
24,471
26,721
25,166
23,305
23,240
24,748
Males
10,277
11,534
12,004
11,924
13,224
14,314
15,480
16,240
17,221
18,068
Females
13,231
11,914
11,224
12,195
11,247
12,407
9,686
7,065
6,019
6,680
Self-harm individuals2
5,760
6,020
6,352
6,521
6,831
6,958
6,868
6,803
6,956
7,465
Males
4,290
4,585
4,879
4,990
5,302
5,540
5,558
5,675
5,885
6,381
Females
1,470
1,435
1,473
1,531
1,529
1,418
1,310
1,128
1,071
1,084
Self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners
311
303
290
294
294
315
295
268
275
293
Males
145
158
159
153
168
178
191
196
214
222
Females
2,994
2,670
2,568
2,746
2,621
2,912
2,313
1,695
1,531
1,710
Self-harm individuals per 1,000 prisoners2
76
78
79
79
82
82
81
78
82
89
Males
60
63
64
64
67
69
69
68
73
Females
333
322
337
345
356
333
313
271
272
277
Self-harm incidents per individual
4.1
3.9
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.8
3.7
3.4
3.3
3.3
Males
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.8
2.9
2.9
2.8
Females
9.0
8.3
7.6
8.0
7.4
8.7
7.4
6.3
5.6
6.2
Hospital Attendances
1,186
1,233
1,230
1,337
1,266
1,379
1,497
1,490
1,646
1,717
Males
950
999
1,049
1,128
1,091
1,214
1,331
1,329
1,515
1,598
Females
236
234
181
209
175
165
166
161
131
119
12 months ending
79
 
 
The number of reported self-harm incidents increased by 6% in the 12 months to September 
2014 to 24,748 compared with 23,240 incidents in the same period a year earlier.  
 
As self-harm rates differ between males and females it is best to consider the trends 
separately. 
 
                                                 
8 Safety in Custody: Self-harm Table 2.4  
9 Safety in Custody: Self-harm Table 2.5 www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics 
 
- 16 -

 
Figure 6: Number of self-harm incidents in prison custody by gender, (rolling 12 
months by quarter) 
0
3000
6000
9000
12000
15000
18000
21000
Mar 04
Dec 04
Sep 05
Jun 06
Mar 07
Dec 07
Sep 08
Jun 09
Mar 10
Dec 10
Sep 11
Jun 12
Mar 13
Dec 13
Sep 14
Number of incidents
Males
Females
 
2.1 Male self-harm 
 
 
In the 12 months to September 2014 there were: 
 
18,068 reported incidents of self-harm by male prisoners, up 847 incidents (5%) 
in the previous year. 
 
222 incidents per 1,000 male prisoners, up 8 (4%) compared with the previous 12 
months.   
 
6,381 male prisoners self-harmed, up 496 (8%) on the same period in 2013. 
 
Of those male prisoners who self-harm, they carried out, on average, 2.8 self-harm 
incidents in the 12 months to June 2014, down 0.1 incidents on the previous year.  
The number of reported male self-harm incidents increased by 5% in the 12 months to 
September 2014 to 18,068 incidents compared with 17,221 incidents in the 12 months to 
September 2013. This continues the long term trend of the number of self-harm incidents 
amongst male prisoners increasing. 
 
The number of incidents is affected by changes in the size of the prison population. The rate 
per 1,000 prisoners accounts for changes in the prison population. This also increased over 
the period to 222 incidents per 1,000 prisoners in the 12 months to September 2014 
compared with 214 incidents per 1,000 prisoners a year earlier. 
 
The number of male prisoners reported to have self-harmed has increased to 6,381 in the 12 
months to September 2014 from 5,885 in the 12 months to September 2013 (an increase of 
8%). However, approximately 5% of male self-harm incidents do not have the prisoner’s 
details recorded and so the actual number of males self-harming is likely to be higher.  
 
 
- 17 -

The rate of male prisoners self-harming increased by 8% year-on-year to 79 males per 1,000 
male prisoners from 73 males per 1,000 male prisoners. 
 
Self-harm by male prisoners has been increasing over the longer term. Since the 12 months 
to September 2005 the rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 male prisoners has increased 
by 53%. The rate of male prisoners self-harming per 1,000 male prisoners has increased by 
32%. 
2.2 Female self-harm 
 
 
In the 12 months to end of September 2014 there were: 
 
6,680 incidents of self-harm by female prisoners, up 661 incidents (11%) on the 
same period in 2013; 
 
1,084 female prisoners self-harmed, up 13 (1%) on the previous 12 months 
 
277 females per 1,000 female prisoners, up 5 per 1,000 female prisoners (2%) on 
the previous 12 months; 
 
Female prisoners who self-harm, were responsible for 6.2 self-harm incidents on 
average, up 0.6 incidents (11%) on the same period in 2013. 
The number of reported female self-harm incidents increased by 11% in the 12 months to 
September 2014 to 6,680 incidents compared with 6,019 incidents in the same period the 
previous year. The rate of self-harm incidents increased to 1,710 incidents per 1,000 female 
prisoners compared with 1,531 incidents per 1,000 female prisoners. This increase reverses 
the downward trend seen since 2010. 
 
The number of female prisoners recorded to have self-harmed in the 12 months to 
September 2014 increased to 1,084 prisoners from 1,071 prisoners in the 12 months to 
September 2013. The rate of female prisoners self-harming increased 277 females per 
1,000 female prisoners in the 12 months to September 2014 compared with 272 per 1,000 
female prisoners in the same period a year earlier. (figure 7). As with males there are a small 
percentage of female self-harm incidents where the individual involved is not recorded. 
 
This has reversed the recent falling trend of self-harm by female prisoners which fell by over 
50% between the 12 months to September 2010 (12,407 incidents) and the 12 months to 
September 2013 (6,019 incidents).  Over the same period the rate of females who self-
harmed fell by 18% (333 females per 1,000 female prisoners and 272 females per 1,000 
female prisoners respectively). 
 
 
- 18 -

Figure 7: Self-harming individuals per 1,000 prisoners by gender, England and Wales 
(rolling 12 months by quarter) 
0
100
200
300
400
Mar 04
Sep 04
Mar 05
Sep 05
Mar 06
Sep 06
Mar 07
Sep 07
Mar 08
Sep 08
Mar 09
Sep 09
Mar 10
Sep 10
Mar 11
Sep 11
Mar 12
Sep 12
Mar 13
Sep 13
Mar 14
Sep 14
Individuals per 1,000 prisoners
Male individuals
Female individuals
 
 
Despite the falls seen in recent years, self-harm by females continue to account for a 
disproportionate amount of self-harm in prison custody – females accounted for 27% of self-
harm incidents in this reporting period but only make up around 5% of the prison population. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- 19 -

3 Assaults (including fights) 
 
 
15,763 assault incidents in the 12 months to the end of September 2014, up 
from 14,207 incidents in the previous 12 months (an increase of 11%). 
 
184 assault incidents per 1,000 prisoners in the 12 months to the end of 
September 2014, up from 168 incidents in the 12 months to end of September 
2013. 
 
3,470 assaults on staff in the 12 months to September 2014, up from 3,178 
incidents in the previous 12 months (an increase of 9%). 
 
40 assault on staff incidents per 1,000 prisoners, up from 38 in the previous 
12 months. 
 
1,958 serious assault incidents in the 12 months to September 2014, an 
increase from 1,497 in the same period last year (an increase of 31%).  
 
431 serious assaults on staff in the 12 months to September 2014, up from 
328 in the 12 months to end of September 2013.
Assaults in prison custody cover a wide range of violent incidents including fights between 
prisoners.  NOMS does not use the Home Office counting rule definitions of Actual Bodily 
Harm (ABH), Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), affray etc. and figures cannot be compared 
directly. 
 
Table 4: Assault incidents Summary Statistics, England and Wales 
-Sep 05 -Sep 06 -Sep 07 -Sep 08 -Sep 09 -Sep 10 -Sep 11 -Sep 12 -Sep 13
-Sep 14
ASSAULTS
Assault incidents1 2
14,004
14,926
15,298
15,896
15,363
14,508
15,088
14,965
14,207
15,763
Male establishments
13,020
13,719
14,283
14,949
14,594
13,848
14,416
14,367
13,697
15,206
Female establishments
984
1,207
1,015
947
769
660
672
598
510
557
Assault incidents per 1,000 prisoners
186
193
191
194
185
171
177
172
168
184
Male establishments
183
188
189
192
185
172
178
173
170
186
Female establishments
223
271
232
213
179
155
160
143
129
142
Serious assaults
1,300
1,392
1,489
1,532
1,326
1,410
1,352
1,278
1,497
1,958
Male establishments
1,231
1,328
1,434
1,487
1,291
1,366
1,303
1,248
1,464
1,920
Female establishments
69
64
55
45
35
44
49
30
33
3
Assaults on Staff
3,437
3,536
3,343
3,255
3,057
2,937
3,053
3,014
3,178
3,470
Male establishments
3,061
3,011
2,919
2,866
2,778
2,721
2,820
2,828
3,002
3,308
Female establishments
376
525
424
389
279
216
233
186
176
162
Assault on staff per 1,000 prisoners
46
46
42
40
37
35
36
35
38
40
Male establishments
43
41
39
37
35
34
35
34
37
40
Female establishments
85
118
97
88
65
51
56
45
45
41
Serious assaults on staff
280
282
281
306
252
310
281
250
328
431
Male establishments
263
255
261
285
241
291
262
243
315
418
Female establishments
17
27
20
21
11
19
19
7
13
13
1.Data includes incidents at NOMS run Immi
8
gration Removal Centres
2. Gender refers to the type of establishment. Although predominantly the gender of the people involved in the assault will be the same as the 
type of establishment, in a small number of cases - typically assaults on staff - the gender may be different to the establishment type.
12 months ending
 
 
Assaults are dominated by what happens in the male prison estate, which accounts for 95% 
of the prison population.  
 
The key population factors determining the risk of involvement in assaults are:  
 
Age: Younger prisoners are more likely to assault and be victims than older 
prisoners;10 
                                                 
10 Safety in Custody: Assaults table 3.3 
 
- 20 -

 
Time in custody: After the initial induction period, a disproportionate amount of 
assaults occurs in the early stages of custody. 11 
3.1 All Assaults  
There were 15,763 record assault incidents in the 12 months to the end of September 2014 
at a rate of 184 assaults per 1,000 prisoners. This was an increase of 1,556 incidents (11%), 
or 16 assaults per 1,000 prisoners (10%), over the same period last year. This increase may 
be slightly overstated due to an improvement in reporting of assault incidents following 
changes in data assurance processes. Nevertheless, the reporting improvements do not 
account for all the increase. 
 
There are differing trends between different age groups (figure 8). The increase in assaults 
primarily occurs amongst adult (those aged 21 and over) prisoners; this has consistently 
increased since 2010. In the 12 months to September 2014 there were 11,136 assaults 
involving only adults, an increase of 2,864 incidents since the corresponding period in 2010. 
This increase will be, in part, due to the increase in this cohort of the prison population. 
Assault incidents where the youngest person involved was aged between 18 and 20 years 
old has remained broadly unchanged at around 3,000 incidents a year over the last 10 
years. The number of assaults involving 15 to 17 year olds has fallen by over 50% from its 
peak in the 12 months to September 2008 to 1,577 assault incidents in 2014. This fall in the 
15 to 17 year old age group has been driven by the fall in the number of 15 to 17 year olds 
held in prison custody, and does not present any evidence in itself of this age group 
becoming less violent. 
 
Figure 8: Number of assault incidents by age group of youngest prisoner involved in 
incident  
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
-Sep 05 -Sep 06 -Sep 07 -Sep 08 -Sep 09 -Sep 10 -Sep 11 -Sep 12 -Sep 13 -Sep 14
Number of incidents
Young Person (15 to 17 year old)
Young Adult (18 to 20 year old)
Adult (aged 21 and over)
 
Comparisons between the male and female estate 
With 96% of assaults occurring in the male estate, the overall rate of assaults is heavily 
biased towards the rate of assaults in the male estate.  
                                                 
11 Safety in Custody: Assaults table 3.4 www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics 
 
- 21 -

The rate of assaults for male prisoners increased in the 12 months to September 2014 to 
186 assaults per 1,000 prisoners, compared with 170 assaults per 1,000 male prisoners in 
the same period a year earlier. The increase has come after a period of falling trend which 
saw the rate of assaults falling from 192 assaults per 1,000 male prisoners in the 12 months 
to September 2008 to 170 assaults per 1,000 male prisoners in the 12 months to September 
2013.  
 
In the female estate, there were 142 assaults per 1,000 female prisoners in the 12 months to 
September 2014, up from 129 assaults per 1,000 female prisoners in the 12 months to 
September 2013. This increase has come after a period of falling trend. The rate of assaults 
in the female estate fell from a peak of 271 assaults per 1,000 female prisoners in the 12 
months to September 2006 to 129 assaults per 1,000 female prisoners in the 12 months to 
September 2013 – almost halving the rate of assaults in female establishments over the 
period. 
 
Figure 9: Total assaults per 1,000 prisoners by gender, England and Wales (rolling 12 
months by quarter) 
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
12 months to
Assaults per 1,000 prisoners
Male
Female
 
 
 
Serious assaults12 increased in the 12 months to the end of September 2014 to 1,958 
incidents from 1,497 incidents in the previous year – an increase of 31%. As with all 
incidents, there is volatility in the time series of serious assault incidents although there has 
been a general quarter on quarter upward trend since the beginning of 2012 (figure 10). The 
number of serious assaults has increased quarter on quarter since the July to September 
quarter in 2012 to 572 in June to September 2014. 
 
                                                 
12 For the definition of serious assaults see the Guide to Safety in Custody Statistics. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics  
 
- 22 -

Figure 10: Serious assaults by quarter (rolling 12 month totals), England and Wales 
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
12 months to
Number of Serious Assaults
 
3.2 Assaults on staff 
There were 3,470 assaults on staff in the 12 months to September 2014 at a rate of 40 
assaults per 1,000 prisoners. This is an increase 292 (9%) assaults, or 2 assaults per 1,000 
prisoners (5%) on the 12 months to September 2013. The number of assaults on staff had 
been on a generally downward trend between the 12 months to September 2006 and the 12 
months to September 2012 but has increased in the last two years. 
 
Figure 11: Total assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners by gender, England and Wales 
(rolling 12 months by quarter) 
0
50
100
150
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
12 months to
Assaults per 1,000 prisoners
Assaults on staff (Male)
Assaults on staff (Female)
 
 
There were 431 serious assaults on staff in the 12 months to the end of September 2014 – 
an increase of 103 incidents on the previous year. This figure is the highest number of 
 
- 23 -

serious assaults on staff recorded since current recorded practices began in 2003 (figure 
12). Quarterly data shows that the number of serious assaults on staff has, with the 
exception of January to March quarter 2014, increased since the beginning of 2012 rising 
from 60 incidents in January to March 2012 to 127 incidents in June to September 2014. 
 
Figure 12: Number of serious assaults on staff (rolling 12 months by quarter), England 
and Wales 
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Dec 03
Jun 04
Dec 04
Jun 05
Dec 05
Jun 06
Dec 06
Jun 07
Dec 07
Jun 08
Dec 08
Jun 09
Dec 09
Jun 10
Dec 10
Jun 11
Dec 11
Jun 12
Dec 12
Jun 13
Dec 13
Jun 14
12 months to
Number of Serious Assaults on staff
 
 
 
 
- 24 -

 
References 
 
HM Inspectorate of Prisons 
 
Prison and YOI inspections (www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/) 
 
Independent Advisory Panel (IAP) on Deaths in Custody 
 
Deaths in state custody (http://iapdeathsincustody.independent.gov.uk/) 
 
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) 
 
Deaths in Custody Study (www.ipcc.gov.uk/en/Pages/deathscustodystudy.aspx) 
 
Deaths following police contact (hwww.ipcc.gov.uk/en/Pages/reports_polcustody.aspx) 
 
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) 
 
Fatal Incident reports (www.ppo.gov.uk/document/fii-report/) 
 
Annual reports (www.ppo.gov.uk/document/annual-reports/) 
 
World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 
 
ICD 10 (http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en) 
 
Ministry of Justice/NOMS 
 
Prison and Probation Statistics (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-
justice/about/statistics) 
 
Prison Service Orders (www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psos) 
 
Prison Service Instructions (www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis) 
 
 
 
 
- 25 -

List of tables and figures 
 
This is a list of quarterly and annual Safety in Custody Statistics tables and figures.  Tables 1 
to 4 and figures 1 to 4 are included in this publication.  The remaining tables are available 
from the website13.  All tables refer to incidents in prison custody in England and Wales.  
 
 
Table description 
Period 
 
 
 
 
Safety in Custody – Summary tables 
 
Table 1 
Safety in custody summary statistics 
Jan 04 – Dec 14 
Table 2 
Deaths in custody summary statistics 
Jan 04 – Dec 14 
Table 3 
Self-harm summary statistics 
Oct 04 – Sep 14 
Table 4 
Assaults summary statistics 
Oct 04 - Sep 14 
Table 5 
Deaths in prison custody by apparent cause by quarter  
Jan 00 – Dec 14 
Table 6 
Self-harm incidents by quarter 
Jan 04 – Sep 14 
Table 7 
Assault incidents by quarter 
Jan 03 – Sep 14 
 
 
 
 
Safety in Custody – Figures 
 
Figure 1 
Number of deaths in prison custody  
Dec 00 – Dec 14
Figure 2 
Deaths per 1,000 prisoners by apparent cause  
Dec 00 – Dec 14
Figure 3 
Number of apparent self-inflicted deaths in prison custody  
Dec 00 – Dec 14
Figure 4 
Number of apparent natural cause deaths in prison custody  
Dec 00 – Dec 14
Figure 5 
Standardised Mortality Ratio 
Dec 04 – Dec 14
Figure 6 
Number of self-harm incidents by gender  
Jan 04 – Sep 14 
Figure 7 
Self-harm individuals per 1,000 prisoners  
Jan 04 – Sep 14 
Figure 8 
Number of assault incidents by age group of youngest prisoner  
Sep 05 – Sep 14
Figure 9 
Assaults per 1,000 prisoners – total  
Jan 03 – Sep 14 
Figure 10 
Number of serious assaults 
Jan 03 – Sep 14 
Figure 11 
Assaults per 1,000 prisoners – on staff 
Jan 03 – Sep 14 
Figure 12 
Number of serious assaults on staff 
Jan 03 – Sep 14 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deaths tables 
 
Table 1.1 
Annual deaths in prison custody and rates by apparent cause  
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.2 
Annual deaths in prison custody by apparent cause and gender 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.3 
Annual deaths in prison custody by apparent cause and age band 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.4 
Annual deaths arising from incidents in prison custody but occurring 
elsewhere 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.5 
Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by gender 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.6 
Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by age 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.7 
Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by time in custody and 
current prison 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.8 
Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by type of custody 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.9 
Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by ethnicity 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.10 Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by nationality type 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.11 Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by sentence type 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.12 Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody by method 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.13 Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody: Ligatures used in 
hanging/self-strangulation 
1999 - 2014 
Table 1.14 Annual self-inflicted deaths in prison custody: Ligature points used in 
1999 - 2014 
                                                 
13 Safety in Custody: Assaults table 3.2 www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics  
 
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fatal hangings 
Table 1.15 Annual natural cause deaths in prison custody by age group 
2001 - 2014 
Table 1.16 Annual self-inflicted deaths by establishment 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.17 Annual natural cause deaths by establishment 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.18 Annual deaths by establishment 
1978 - 2014 
Table 1.19 Dates of opening/closing and major re-roles of prisons 
2001 - 2014 
 
 
 
 
Self-harm tables 
 
Table 2.1 
Annual self-harm summary 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.2 
Annual self-harm incidents by method 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.3 
Annual self-harm incidents by age group 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.4 
Annual individuals self-harming by age group 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.5 
Annual self-harm incidents by time in current prison 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.6 
Annual self-harm incidents by type of custody 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.7 
Annual self-harm incidents by ethnicity 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.8 
Annual self-harm incidents by nationality type 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.9 
Individuals self-harming by nationality type 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.10 Annual self-harm incidents by location 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.11 Annual self-harm incidents by type of hospital attendances 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.12 Annual self-harm frequency 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.13 Annual self-harm incidents by establishment 
2004 - 2013 
Table 2.14 Dates of prisons opening/closing and major re-roles of prisons 
2001 - 2013 
 
 
 
 
Assaults tables 
 
Table 3.1 
Annual prison assault summary statistics 
2002 - 2013 
Table 3.2 
Annual assault incidents and prisoner assailants, victims and fighters 
by gender 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.3 
Annual assault incidents and prisoner assailants, victims and fighters 
by age 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.4 
Annual prisoner assailants, victims and fighters by time in current 
prison 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.5 
Annual prisoner assailants, victims and fighters by type of custody 
2004 - 2013 
Table 3.6 
Annual prisoner assailants, victims and fighters by ethnicity 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.7 
Annual prisoner assailants, victims and fighters by nationality type 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.8 
Annual assault incidents by assailant / victim type 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.9 
Annual sexual assault incidents by assailant / victim type 
2000 - 2013 
Table 3.10 Annual assault incidents involving weapons 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.11 Annual assaults on staff 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.12 Annual assault incidents by type of injury 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.13 Annual assault related hospital attendances / treatment for 
concussion/internal injuries 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.14 Annual assaults by establishment 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.15 Annual assaults on staff and on prison officers by establishment 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.16 Annual prisoner on prisoner assaults by establishment 
2000 – 2013 
Table 3.17 Dates of prisons opening/closing and major re-roles of prisons 
2001 – 2013 
 
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Data Sources and Data Quality  
 
The data presented in this publication are drawn the NOMS Deaths in Custody Database 
and NOMS Incident Reporting System.  
 
Information relating to deaths in prison custody is closely scrutinised and the data is 
considered to be of high quality. Classifications of deaths however, are not finalised until 
after inquest. As inquests may not be concluded until some years after a death, tables 
dependent on classifications should be treated as provisional. Changes do not generally 
affect reported trends. 
 
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the information collected 
is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. While the figures 
shown have been checked as far as practicable, they should be regarded as approximate 
and not necessarily accurate to the last whole number shown in the tables. Where figures in 
the tables have been rounded to the nearest whole number, the rounded components do not 
always add to the totals, which are calculated and rounded independently.   
 
Self-harm and assault incidents in custody are more likely to be detected and counted than 
those occurring in the community. However, some incidents in custody will remain 
undetected and therefore go unreported.  
 
For a more detailed discussion about data sources and data quality see the ‘Guide to Safety 
in Custody Statistics’14  
 
 
Explanatory notes  
 
The statistics in this bulletin relate to deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody in 
England and Wales.   
 
Symbols and conventions  
The following symbols have been used throughout the tables in this bulletin:  
 
..  
not available  
0  
nil or less than half the final digit shown 
-  
not applicable  
(p)  Provisional data  
(r)  Revised data  
 
                                                 
14 Guide to Safety in Custody Statistics which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-
custody-statistics  
 
 
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Contact points  
 
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:  
 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx  
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to:  
 
Sandy Rass 
Planning and Analysis Group  
NOMS Agency  
Clive House  
70 Petty France 
London  
SW1H 9EX  
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx  
 
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be e-mailed to: 
xxx@xxx.xx  
 
General information about the official statistics system of the UK is available from 
www.statistics.gov.uk 
 
 
Ministry of Justice publishes data relating to offender management in England and Wales. 
Equivalent statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland can be found at:  
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice 
www.sps.gov.uk/FreedomofInformation/PrisonerDeaths.aspx 
www.dojni.gov.uk/index/statistics-research/stats-research-publications.htm 
 
 
Alternative formats are available on request from xxx@xxx.xx 
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