Highest Rate And Number Of Self-harm Incidents In Prison On Record

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Press releases
30 January 2025

Safety in Custody statistics released today reveal:

  • the highest rate and number of self-harm incidents in the male and female estate since recording began in 2004.
  • an increase in the number of deaths compared to the previous year

Self-harm

Specifically, in the 12 months to September 2024, the rate of self-harm incidents shot up by 11% compared to the previous 12 months to 891 incidents per 1000 prisoners – exposing the epidemic of self-harm in prison.

The graph below illustrates the alarming rise in the rate of self-harm over a decade. It reflects how the prison environment can induce and exacerbate mental ill health.

A graph with lines and numbersDescription automatically 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kgASQQHIEkuyxM6ZL9Os2ep/kSpr3oUcejtd9dtDr8d29Y/xFyJ6jrd9d+Y7T5X72tS/6IzgcyfsWgQVEAhkjoO+f9T4qYVCXqHBklePg7tNkyX2XwZL7yNjE2oqtTpf7sZ+8+fmOYzN4FkpW1RwKgwRynoBec+h9VIXMmC7BtXcV94QO+Mrd6/FFBrQDjrab9/+t9K9Ol/tHL3zYfrsnYVIYAAkgASSQNIFsneNKuiC6CD11xfxoYX54JbPNonHqYuaix7mT7fqv3KdnHn26tQV2/b5etWssOpmLRUOZkQASyCQB6eB4rh9YV6pxzkqoDI5LtHJCMbh60N7VumloCMyVCvvVOLURc9Q9NRm7fPbW1GRMyN878PC5si+cLve3n17fdCLpQ4JFOniBBJDAwiEAb9rKaze9YtNVfNaK/6qpcEXDj1FM0FfPoy5Ry23tovqirhwKE2C/cVC3GqdxQo8ePZrKmr+hwYfWsgxFRjQBDhy7/MQqYnd91as1d3v6NXfRiQSQwEImYNzrEd9AIMA6yjhdZxBKpbiuRxmviE5USUivX/Q+Suh4PJ4TuoSNPHh5+W8yumR6evrBvP7d7AhdvXTzwYMHXaF7Xo9v+8Yj/qbzHW239UId2X/W6/GFbt+FW5137/++covT5f5GyZuVn+/tCffqo6APEkACC5mAqlPXOYTOEBdx2olqnOp4es2h91HFyAVdIg+1yMgkFV2iKnRmHVOTsdP+q2CYfXJiamoydngP0Rbwr37DoRttd4VE4fsD4D/6kHyi2H6750cvfOh0uf+t9K+t7aZfmYjoeIEEkAAS0BAQOkNc2NAlSe+Wypgu4evjfO6N/rLxlqbkZk71IR7+AAAWkklEQVSuQzQLJBqnWez58b97p3f7xiOgHs4cuyaEGBkevxi8sePLo16Pz++7CP7Xr3RByAuB6zOPHn2x4/hjP3nT6XKvrdiKpqsEOrxAAkggKQKyCllkf71Em0eCFe6M6RIiV4IxklZ0rZvrEpoQ0UV8LYjpKe7Uxps3973QA9ANu73+3vuDhnL0hSPTsZl4PP6gOwKBd9W2POgffvY1ssz+nafXNx5hmsYwOnoiASSABKwJKLqErAvIr/Eap3UyCe5mVJckkCXvbvd2D3o9vounrtss2eWztw7uPt10pHX5M2SZ/al1n90LG2sgmwliMCSABJBAZgigLkkz55Hh8cN7zh3Yfiq1dCu+OACnNH7kPZRaChgLCSABJJB5AqhL0sn8QXdk64ZDZJvWpiMwc2Uz9eHRaHV9yz8/V+l0uf/ll3851xayGRGDIQEkgATmgEDSK9wZ1iXKksccFH6ek+y8FYYFj+aGM3YOigdx74UH36nZ982n3obhyG/e2TI0kviQ+XkuKmaPBJDAAiCQ1Ap3hnWJtAiUXzUxPjoBiiRw+LLNkrXd7F5XUf8PJW6ny/2PP33b7WkM3e+3GReDIQEkgASyikCGdYlm3JTcnuCsAqcX5sD2U5fO3NT7a3wePYofOd0Op6E4Xe5/+vl7H9cdHhwe0wRDJxJAAkgghwhkWJfkEBlbok7HZq5f6RqOjNoKHY+fv9pZ/OJHMJ31oxc+9O45hSbZbaLDYEgACWQzgYzrEhiZlAf4F4bZDCeBbBPRqQPbA16P7/jB1gRB4/GJydiHXzWDFvnZ76oPHL+SMAoGQAJIAAnMK4EkVrgzrEtAskA5mdzK7bWTh0Nju75q8Xp8OzYdHR5MMC45fel28a/IcOSfn6s8erp9XhsHZo4EkAASsEkgiV56HnVJUnsEbJY8Q8GGB0dh7+/eLSei41ZGRIZHo298vBuGI299ugePQslQDWE2SAAJpIFAEivcGdYl4vgT8h1/7q68X71wx+vxHd5zNjY1bVFfTSfafvAL8slI8a8+On+10yIk3kICSAAJ5DSBjOuSnKYVj4+ORKEEvd1Wp5uE+4d/9eZXYI+96uvDk5YqJ8eRoPhIAAnkLwHbK9wZ1yXSmCm3xiVjI9E9W054Pb7B/ocWDefRo/iW/ae/u/Idp8v907Wf3ejstQiMt5AAEkACWUwgiRXuDOsSeY1Evs5imFS0vnBk2xeHvR7flprmsVE2NNELffBk24tuMhz55lNvf9UQ0AdAHySABJBA7hCQdUmCHjvDukTeFZDEbrP5RR+60QPftO/detLwcJToxNTmfaf//fkPYI39zx/v7n4wNL8yY+5IAAkggTQQsD2TlGFdIslFT9GXj9JPQ7HnJglQJKeOtumTHxwe+1vdke/9/D2ny/2tp8rf3bC/t39YHwx9kAASQAL5TSDDuiQnYd5qv991W7vs0dUz4PY0/uNPyZmM3135zkfeQ3gOSk7WLgqNBJCABQHp/d96hRt1iTHF+519O748ev2KgYn1C9e6/re8Dqazvv9sRXV9y0PzFRTj1NEXCSABJJADBOQ1EvnaQHTUJSood653XzpzM9jSBvNaJw+pDv291HH3hf+rBS1StPr9rxoCE5MxVXx0IAEkgATyh0ASK9wLVJf09w51XO48dbTNt+NU3WcHTx1lp2OBCoH/j+47Lz5FbL/ds+atr0GL/FvpX7c3ncuf1oIlQQJIAAkYE5BmuBKtcGdcl4Bs83q2Y8+9AVlneD2+Qw1ngOSFU9f9vovtl0K999mniDc6e3/zzhbQIiteqtp16ML09IwxdvRFAkgACSxUAhnWJfJuZXn0lAB/T12xascXV5ZsLUjjTJBYfHJiqmX/eb/v4vlAR/ulznuhB4b2dEP3+39XuQ20yH+/7NnnvzTz6FGitPE+EkACSCBbCPCek3SfxXU99ERdGF9QV1rFnEddkmAlRyom/xKF/fLj6tmvxinFS+lyZGxiz9HW1z7YAVrkJ698sv+YatUkpVQxEhJAAkhg3gjA2ezkPETrzVizEDDDumRWZzvygQxXLezUeo3TGMajR4/GLf/6B4e27g++yJfWnS73k6980nT8kmUkvIkEkAASmH8Cxr2e8JX7yLkalsQzrEtEmeLJ2i+h81igUkUioFw0TsFPdTE9Pd1v9Nd1r/vrxuPPv7EJRiHw/5OveLbsPWkUHP2QABJAAllHQNXZ6RzKYIRPBvHJHF1QvYftFe7M6RJ55g5UI0zg6YU39wG1oVEeGqd5bOnOWHRyb8ull9dvfvzJt0B/PPbkWy+6v6o/cKZ/KIFhKykZvEQCSAAJZDcBPp+jklL0mipfvYN3ueQ13jAhJUrmdAnN024JFAFhAAMLRcYLJFzF8l9VXCNH3+DI8mfeBRXynafX//4v2xqPto5FrUxaGSWDfkgACSCBrCcgdbqij0ygFpQyybqED2qUu6qrDOuSON9yBSMTu8tAfEzD9x6wVEycqgIaOIZHoz9+qeqdDftPXrxpcBu9kAASQAL5QkCtNnhXarfrTWKFO8O6hGs5ogUkdZkv1YblQAJIAAnkEQG5l1ZrJV0h50WXgEwJJNOJih5IAAkgASSQIQJ8CMNWt8kPnwkylCDDuoQs3xTX9TAp7Y+zDGVHTySABJAAEphDAvK4JEE2mdYlCcTB20gACSABJJA1BOyvcGdOl4gREx2NgAsHJlnTZFAQJIAEkICWQBIr3BnTJWKsFCgvLi62nnjTlgfdSAAJIAEkkHkC0G/bWuHOvC7BJffMNwjMEQkgASSQCgH7K9zzoUvKyXmV+IcEkAASQAJ5QyCDukTaWsYvcb0kbxoSFgQJIIG8IpDsCnfGdEleUcbCIAEkgATymkDSK9yoS/K6PWDhkAASQAKpEBC6xO4KN+qSVDBjHCSABJBAXhOQdIm9FW7UJXndHrBwSAAJIIFUCKg/UmRL3FYr3KhLUsGMcZAAEkACSEAmgLpEpoHXSAAJIAEkkAoB1CWpUMM4SAAJIAEkIBNAXSLTwGskgASQABJIhQDqklSoYRwkgASQABKQCaAukWngNRJAAkgACaRCAHVJKtQwDhJAAkgACcgEckOX8K3O3EQkd7PdzhqnXD68RgJIAAksXALiVC3oPLmTd6VpBJMLukR8w88u4BTkOLP3y3/EbxrpYFJIAAkggVwmECiXvy8MlC+iTv6bzpLlgi4R5WW6RPq4v7g8ENc4RWi8QAJIAAksbAJ8HALWB8VrudJrpg9PDukSPhxRMAAZW7pkZmZmFP+QABJAAvlIwFQj8AGIMGkl1gXSPsuVK7okUK6Y9dUoD43TmOrMzEwE/5AAEkAC+UjAuNeTfWk3ieMShQCFwwco7FfjlPnhNRJAAkhg4RLgnSNZTSYjEj5M4b/pJJML4xK+TYscVQkDM+bDR2kaZzr5YFpIAAkggdwlwBdM2NyWxpnOcuWCLklneTEtJIAEkAASSD8B1CXpZ4opIgEkgAQWGgHUJQutxrG8SAAJIIH0E0Bdkn6mmCISQAJIYKERQF2y0Gocy4sEkAASSD8B1CXpZ4opIgEkgAQWGgHUJQutxrG8SAAJIIH0E0Bdkn6mmCISQAJIYKERQF2y0Gocy4sEkAASSD8B1CXpZ4opIgEkgAQWGgHUJQutxrG8SAAJIIH0E0Bdkn6mmCISQAJIYKERQF2y0Gocy4sEkAASSD8B1CXpZ4opIgEkgAQWGgHUJQutxrG8SAAJIIH0E0Bdkn6mmCISQAJIYKERQF2y0Gocy4sEkAASSD8B1CXpZ4opIgEkgAQWGgHUJQutxrG8SAAJIIH0E0Bdkn6mmCISQAJIYKERQF2y0Gocy4sEkAASSD+B3NElPXXF5QEGIFC+iP4xD40z/ZQwRSSABJBALhLgnWNxXQ8Rv6euGPpO5k5jkXJElwAQpjp66oopCParcaYRDiaFBJAAEshhAuINnF8EysUbebqLlRu6JBAIEIUqhiGKji0PxAPlKme6CWF6SAAJIIEcJ8C6zzkclsRzQ5eQekRdkuOtGcVHAkhgfgjwuZt4oHwRfSMXHmmUZ6Hoklgs1ot/SAAJIIF8JGClEgLli/SLI2I2xypmcvdyUZdwncp+NU7j8j969GgK/5AAEkAC+UjAuNdTTeeQILyvlGZ5TGMmfSMXdUmcjNTIH9e2GmfSEDACEkACSCAPCfBdXKK75Asmc7ACnzu6JA8rGouEBJAAEsgTAqhL8qQisRhIAAkggXkkgLpkHuFj1kgACSCBPCGAuiRPKhKLgQSQABKYRwKoS+YRPmaNBP7/9s41PVEYCsPdYZfVpbgU1zEW0da7KCgQMw+XQKxJgAFyOuTzR6W5fTlvTnIgoIIACEyEAGLJRAYSZoAACIAAIQHEEkL4kAYBEACBiRBALJnIQMIMEAABECAkgFhCCB/SIAACIDARAoglExlImAECIAAChAQQSwjhQxoEQAAEJkIAsWQiAwkzQAAEQICQAGIJIXxIgwAIgMBECCCWTGQgYQYIgAAIEBJALCGED2kQAAEQmAgBxJKJDCTMAAEQAAFCAoglhPAhDQIgAAITIYBYMpGBhBkgAAIgQEgAsYQQPqRBAARAYCIEEEsmMpAwAwRAAAQICSCWEMKHNAiAAAhMhABiyUQGEmaAAAiAACGBacSS+cdb/vqYE6KENAiAAAj8MgKr2Xu+Nr7PViP3bAqxZDV7z0GJ95GRoXkQAAEQ+D8IzD/e8jNs8T5ir6cQS+YfZcxdzd5xZTKis6BpEACB/4pAvSRWq+Ro/XcllgRB4Hmer3ktl8vFYqHJ9L38pcv1ff/Pnz+6XM/zDC37vr9YLJbLpbK6uVe+739+fhqMMrTs+w1GmVv2PO/z81PZ58aWC5N1dRuN6tOxxWJhwGWmbTbZ7APmlgsgho6Z/ccMxJxrNqoPrsZxNDvnZ/7SOUljxwzOaW7ZPFJmXI1z2bBK9Md1v9+VMQKxRIlFm1hF3BrcS9ntdnu5XJjmFUXR19eXJpOdTqfj8ajLTdPU8zxdbhiGm81Gl8sYW6/Xt9tNWSBJkuVyqcwqEne73fl81hVYrVZxHOtyz+fzfr/X5Y6HizFmNupwOJxOJ13HDLgYY0EQbLdbXd39fh8EgS73drutVitdrhlXYVSapsrqt9vN4F2Msa+vrzAMlXV/La77/W7AxRjbbDbX61VnlOd5OlyMNcy47+/vKIp0LV+vV8OMOx6PBu8yz7jL5bLb7XS6xUjpZlwcx31wLZfLJEl00qf89bLmZQn1klitkspyQyRO4bpE3CcR7youu90uDENVTpaWJMnpdNLlBkFgyH08Hvv9Xlf3drttt1tdLuf8eDwmSaIswBjzfV+ZVSReLpfb7aYrsF6v0zTV5UZRdL1edbnj4eKcG3AVQIIg0HXMgItzfr1ed7udrq4ZVxzH6/VaVzeKosvlosvlnC+Xy8fjoSxg9i7O+ff3t2EcfyeuJEkMuDjnQRDEcawEYsbFOQ/zl67uZrPRnYZzzuM4Pp/Purqn08ngXYyxw+GgqxuGoXksDocDY0xZPU3TPrh839e13IBL3CcR78reDZM4hVjCefkcl+FRhfv9rluyG0EmSWKYFebqaZoalglzXc55FEWNZXQFoijSrW66KlU6Fa5iLegzUoZVprJOecAY60M7DMN/pl2cZSt71ZgYxzEJrsfjQYWruI5vJKMs0AdXn7lMh0s8xzX+neRpxBKl2yARBEAABEDAEgHEEkugIQMCIAACEyaAWDLhwYVpIAACIGCJgMOxZPwHGyyNIWRAAARcI/D7li+nYon4qpXiC1fKv+Pfk8q8vBr5qg+GBwWGnBbZrbfMxEq3+BjskBKatjJFS0Y+96C82/g+m5dfH2HN5PwZTALvetUlAf88DCP/J+4pVz5WP/46snL2oG02yO+zWfndTXYcrJ7CkovZWb5aEXUqlpRTrsRfLe+tQPUsVIpJmhYe0qtjmDTP7OiW0mI1t+nxgnFtqGR9z2FsqC4JzT8ym02PqTe01SW7NlXUek0ROQO/Uy1wYpRrxhL8gW380ZyQrhnXRz+KDvxvHsQolq9WdjgWS3Im5QmzcIlWnPoWetW04/piMSuWtswKa2bLQtWKYyGoCN16gtdHfYexob4kVPbCzihLumUPX1Maut4n26pYZaB06ZV7+dzWNygJB6uR2RnlyvL8ev+1F3V/aI5cjCUZ6TzCS95og355aVyer9q5Ls6Dh3RJbHHbiczZqy0IcVVkDfXPrcT5R7UDM7KDlTZXI23ZtUe2TtV8ZrFkZQ7AwplK3pWncc2UbQkLELm1kvUinfTd1VhCCh3iIAACIDAxAoglExtQmOMigfw8tbgfXPxKhb1dFyppKl2xqUFAm9DkNpPKqVhS7dpXWwFvb5YuT6mkqXRf99YK5hY2A5w0Wex3iPtj1mJJvZNpV5pK9+mOozMmtwkl3KlYkhGhuE9YjgSVNJUuIW3HTK4X1uKsOX8c2kLYflpY7UrD5HeLo4xY0ooACoHAf08g2/0QlyZiE8ZOLMmfYqGQhsn5lpelUW4zQ5y7LmkDBWVAAARAAAQ6EXA3ltSfuOgEbIjCVNJUuvlWCM0JFEwewmHbtkFFm0rXTcfWeQNiiY7MiOlUrk+l6+aUo6JNpYtRHnHJeGmacJRf+lImuBtLdESQDgIgAAIg0JWAk7FEemrU9s4LlTSVbn6yWj2CbZU2TO66GPQpT0WbStdNxzZ6iIOxRH5eVD42chomU5aTj4dpXd+KrCUf62sMliPLyceDCWgakrXkY03xIZNlOfl4SA1VW7KWfKwqO3CaLCcfDyzz0pysJR+/FBw+QZaTj4dXem5R1pKPn0tR/OdgLJE/xvX0lPr4/KmkqXSLx1OrqxGbtGHyrPgE/PhejVF2xLEbXMnBWCJdFVebL/j0e4Of/HM2FW0q3ee9D6sOBpOtfbeCm6PcsAg4GEsaiCAbBEAABECgKwEnY0lxAvcxF1+n0xVaj/JU0lS61QmcfdowuYefdq5KRZtK103HNrqFg7Gk2Nwsns+Wd9WNnIbJpJKm0s0nXPYFG/Zpw+TqNtUwvmtshYo2la6bjm10Ae7edzuKHxYsVjfLD0LIrm9Tmkr3x5SDyQ2zsV82RpkqfDri2A3u6eB1ifzjd5buudeDUFyS5/cIbTp+9vXI4mVVt9oKgMm1E4x2hFEeDa2iYSraVLoKBE9JTsaSJwL4BwRAAARAoC8Bx2JJFtLz83IR2+2dpFNJU+mWVyQUtGGyrZ94y5YfKtpUum6a3CLQOBVLig3lwheKIGLt3juVNJVuDrn8WYtqN9kObZj848ODLZaBfy9CRZtK103HbuUfTsaSanGz9yuLwvVtS1PpSlMOJreaiX0KYZTlE8Q+JNvUpaJNpduGSVbGqViS/wZcdhO43nixtseV/wgagTSVrvh1P5jcdir2KYdRFn7Wh2LbulS0qXRbcnErlrSEgmIgAAIgAAKdCCCWdMKFwiAAAiAAAgoCiCUKKEgCARAAARDoRACxpBMuFAYBEAABEFAQQCxRQEESCIAACIBAJwKIJZ1woTAIgAAIgICCAGKJAgqSQAAEQAAEOhFALOmEC4VBAARAAAQUBBBLFFCQBAIgAAIg0IkAYkknXCgMAiAAAiCgIIBYooCCJBAAARAAgU4EEEs64UJhEAABEAABBQHEEgUUJIEACIAACHQigFjSCRcKgwAIgAAIKAj8BTxxuqFK2tMJAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" 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In the 12 months to September 2024, the number of self-harm incidents peaked to an all-time high of more than 56,000 incidents in the male estate and more than 21,000 incidents in the female estate.

Deaths

In 2024, there were 342 deaths in prison representing an increase of 10% from 311 deaths in the previous 12 months. It is the highest number of deaths in prison since 371 people died in 2021 – a year marked by COVID-19.

It is striking that of all 89 self-inflicted deaths, nearly one fifth (19%) occurred in the first 30 days of being imprisoned. Furthermore, the data revealed that the rate of self-inflicted deaths per 1,000 prisoners was 1.8 for prisoners on remand compared to 0.8 for sentenced prisoners.

In 2024, an inquest opened into the death of Sebastião Lucas, a 34 year old Black man who died by ligature 48 hours after being remanded to Wandsworth prison in May 2021.

Deborah Coles, Director of INQUEST, said:

“The soaring rate of self-harm and high numbers of death reflect the reality of the dehumanising and harmful nature of our prisons. This is a human rights emergency.

The harms of imprisonment extend far beyond the prison walls. Each one of the 342 people who died was a human being with a family and people who cared about them.

We cannot continue locking people up to die. Instead of investing in more prisons and punishment, the government must address the root causes of harm and invest in community services. This is a matter of life and death.”

ENDS

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