Between 2008-2016, male prisoners were 3.7 times more likely to die by suicide than men in the general population

Office for National Statistics are reporting that 1,830 deaths in prison custody from 2008 to 2016 were identified after linking with the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) data.

Male prisoners were at an increased risk of dying by suicide compared with the general male population; the risk of male prisoners dying by suicide was 3.7 times higher than the general male population during the nine-year period.

The large majority of suicides were male deaths, which accounted for 97% of all suicides (450 deaths) compared with 12 female deaths.

The risk of male prisoners dying from drug-related causes was similar to the general male population, with opiates being the most common drug type mentioned in these deaths.