Suicide and drugs fuel prison deaths

A record number of people have died in prisons in Scotland in the last three years, according to new research.

There were 121 deaths in jails between January 2020 and September this year, compared to 98 in the previous three full years.

Twenty-nine of the deaths were suicide, 25 involved drugs, 15 were Covid-related, 42 were attributed to "other" causes such as medical conditions, and two were homicides. Eight deaths are still awaiting classification.

The numbers - significantly higher than those in prisons in England - emerged in a study by the University of Glasgow.

After examining data going back to 1995, researchers said a person imprisoned in 2022 in Scotland would be twice as likely to die in jail as someone in 2008.

They said while Covid infections had an impact on numbers, the increase in deaths by suicide and drugs had the most significant influence.

Sarah Armstrong, of the University of Glasgow and co-author of the report, said continued Covid restrictions in prisons have led to inmates becoming isolated and distressed, which she said causes "significant mental distress".

These include reduced face-to-face visiting, less opportunities to spend time outside of cells, and fewer members of staff.

She described as shocking the fact the number of deaths in the last three years was the highest on record.”