This is the highest annual figure recorded between 2012-13 and 2023-24 and an increase of 15 from 2022-23. Overall, from 2012-13 to 2023-24, there were 399 deaths recorded in prison custody. Annual figures have generally increased over that period.

Around 29 per cent of deaths in prison custody over the full reporting period were categorised as probable suicide (115 between 2012-13 and 2023-24). Overall, probable suicide is the most frequently recorded cause of death in prison custody across the full reporting period. There were 10 probable suicide deaths in prison custody in 2023-24 (+1 from 2022-23).

Diseases of the circulatory system were the second most commonly recorded cause of death in prison custody across the reporting period (83 between 2012-13 and 2023-24, 20.8 per cent overall). There were 12 deaths in prison custody associated with diseases of the circulatory system in 2023-24 (+2 from 2022-23), the highest annual figure across the reporting period.

There were 62 drug misuse deaths in prison custody across the reporting period 2012-13 to 2023-24 (15.5 per cent). There were 12 drug misuse deaths in prison custody in 2023-24 (+3 from 2022-23). While there are fluctuations year to year, the annual number of drug misuse deaths in prison custody has increased over the reporting period.

The risk of male probable suicide deaths in prison custody was significantly higher in the rolling periods 2019-22, 2020-23 and 2021-24 than the male general population. The risk of male probable suicide deaths in prison custody was similar to the general population across the rolling periods 2012-15 to 2018-21.

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “These figures are very distressing, and they reflect the dangerous conditions inside Scotland’s prisons.

“To bring down deaths, we need to give prison staff the necessary resources, roll out mental health professionals across the estate and reform the FAI system so that lessons are learned as swiftly as possible.

“That’s how we ensure our prisons are both humane and productive places for people to serve out a sentence.”