Prison staff fake checks on suicidal inmates as deaths soar 35%, watchdog warns

A prisons watchdog has warned of the “widespread falsification” of records claiming checks on suicidal inmates have been carried out.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

A report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) Adrian Usher found evidence that prison staff had lied over mandatory welfare checks for prisoners at risk of self-harm.

The findings come as prisoner deaths have soared by 35 per cent year on year, with 486 deaths investigated by the ombudsman in 2024-2025, 100 of which were self-inflicted. This includes 393 deaths in prison, up 106 compared to the previous year, and 73 deaths within 14 days of being released from custody.

There was also a 15 per cent increase in complaints from prisoners as widespread overcrowding puts the system “under strain”, the report found. “I am concerned about the rise in complaints and deaths we have seen, and we are working closely with the services in remit to understand what the causes may be,” Mr Usher said.