Deaths in prison increase to 345 in a decade, report finds

The number of people dying in Scotland’s prisons is on the rise, figures show, with 345 deaths occurring in the decade up to 2022-23.

Male prisoners are now significantly more likely to die by suicide than the general male population, data published by the chief statistician shows.

Suicide accounted for around 30% (105) of the deaths recorded between 2012-13 and 2022-23.

The risk of male probable suicide deaths in prison custody was similar to the male general population across the rolling periods 2012-15 to 2018-21, but in the rolling periods 2019-22 to 2020-23, the risk for those in prison custody was significantly higher than the general population.

Diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 20.6% (71) of all the deaths in the 10 years to 2022-23, including ischaemic (coronary) heart disease (37) and cerebrovascular disease (15).

In 2022-23, there were 10 circulatory deaths – the second-highest annual figure across the time period.

Between 2012-13 and 2022-23, there were 50 drug misuse deaths in prison custody – 14.5% of the overall total.

In 2022-23 there were nine drug misuse deaths in prison custody, a decrease of three from the peak of the previous year.

The increase in drug misuse deaths in prison custody reflects similar trends in the general population, with the highest number of such deaths being recorded in Scotland in 2020. The country continues to have, by far, the worst drug death rate in Europe.

Tuesday’s report shows while the risk of drug death in prison was significantly lower than in the general population between 2012-15 and 2019-22, it reached comparable levels between 2020 and 2023.

Of all deaths in prison custody in the decade up to 2023, 96% (330) of these were male and 4% (15) were female.

The Scottish Government said Tuesday’s prison death figures should not be taken as “indicative that the risk of death changes specifically because of an individual being in prison custody”.

It added: “Underlying contributory or determinant factors have not been examined in the analysis presented.”

Scotland’s prison population has ballooned in recent years, and the average daily prison population in 2023-24 was 7,860.

It peaked in 2012 at 8,134 before falling year-on-year to 7,464 in 2017-18. It later fell during the Covid-19 pandemic before rapidly rising from 2022.

Figures released last year by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) found the age of prisoners had also risen in recent years, to 37.8 years on average in 2023-24.

Since 2009-10 the proportion of over-50s in prison has continued to increase, from 6.6% to 15.1% in 2023-24.

Until 2018-19, deaths involving those aged 35 to 54 comprised the highest number of deaths in prison custody in most years, the SPS report released on Tuesday found.

Since 2019-20, the number of deaths in prison custody involving those aged 55 and over has increased and exceeded the number involving those aged 35-54, with the exception of 2021-22.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy, which is why the safety and wellbeing of prisoners and staff is a top priority for this Government.

“The SPS has in place a suicide prevention strategy, Talk to Me, across the prison estate, which is being completely overhauled to support people at their most vulnerable and during moments of crisis, and best reflect evidence-based practices in suicide prevention.

“SPS also has peer mentors and listeners, trained by the Samaritans, to support people when they first arrive and throughout their time in custody.

“Dedicated phone lines have also been introduced in every prison, giving families a direct route to raise mental health concerns about their loved one, and in turn improve our ability to identify people at risk.

“In addition, we have committed £5.6 million over the next two years specifically to suicide prevention.”