The 2024-25 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) Annual Report has now been published, detailing prison and probation complaints – as well as investigations into fatal incidents.

Tragically, the PPO started investigations into 486 deaths last year – a 35% increase on the year before. Of these, 398 deaths occurred in prisons – 106 more than last year. 73 deaths occurred within two weeks of release from prison – 20 more than the previous year.

Throughout the year, 506 recommendations were made following deaths in custody, of which:

• 165 were made about healthcare provision
• 62 about general administration
• 62 about suicide and self-harm prevention
• 37 about emergency response

5,100 prison-related complaints were received over the course of the year – up by 755 on the previous twelve months.

Common categories of complaints were: 

• Property (868)
• Staff behaviour (224)
• Administration (139)
• Adjudication (135)
• Categorisation (107)
• Incentives & earned privileges (106)
• Money (99)

For further information, click here.