A team of researchers at the University of Nottingham has concluded that incomplete recording of prisoner characteristics is leaving officials without the evidence needed to tackle rising deaths in custody. The report, produced as part of the European Research Council-funded RECEDE project, identifies gaps in data collection that may be preventing targeted interventions.
Missing information undermines investigations
The study, led by Professor Philippa Tomczak and Dr Laura Haas from the School of Sociology and Social Policy, warns that standard prison death inquiries do not routinely include basic equality information such as disability status, ethnicity or indicators of socioeconomic disadvantage.
"Our report highlights that enhanced data is an essential foundation for evidence-based action to prevent prisoner deaths."
Researchers say that without this information investigations cannot fully comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010, nor align with other forms of death inquiry such as those into domestic abuse, child deaths or maternal mortality.
Practical recommendations for change
The report sets out a series of measures it says would make death investigations more effective and consistent, and assist efforts to prevent avoidable fatalities in prison settings.
- Collect and publish standardised equality and vulnerability markers (for example, disability and deprivation indicators).
- Strengthen co-ordination between the Ministry of Justice and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
- Use linked administrative datasets to provide a fuller picture of risk and service need.
Authors note that improved recording would not only save lives but also create better evidence to shape services and ensure consistency with other investigatory frameworks.
The report points to initiatives already underway which could be built upon, including the Data First programme and the Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) partnership, while urging government bodies to act to close current gaps.
| Issue | Suggested action |
|---|---|
| Absence of disability data | Include disability markers in investigation records |
| Unrecorded socioeconomic risk | Introduce deprivation indicators and publish analyses |
| Fragmented datasets | Link existing administrative sources under BOLD/Data First |
The authors stop short of assigning blame to any single agency, but emphasise that the rise in prisoner deaths in England and Wales since 2012 requires clear, data-driven responses. The report was produced locally in Nottingham and may intensify scrutiny of national recording practices ahead of any policy adjustments.
Local authorities, healthcare providers working with people in custody and campaign groups seeking improved prisoner welfare will be watching closely for any commitments from the Ministry of Justice and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to adopt the recommendations.
