We publish information regarding all deaths in our custody as part of our legal obligations under the SPS Model Publication Scheme.

Information is published in calendar years, for the past 10 years, on a quarterly basis.

2025

With each death in custody, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.

    • Mark Ferguson, 53, of HMP Shotts, has died on 13 January 2025.
    • William Brown, 67, of HMP Edinburgh, has died on 19 January 2025.
    • Steven Foy, 65, of HMP Barlinnie, has died on 22 January 2025.
    • William John Gibb, 55, of HMP Kilmarnock, has died on 23 January 2025.
    • Kenneth Divers, 80, of HMP Low Moss, has died on 2 February 2025.
    • Gerard McTaggart, 49, of HMP Edinburgh, has died on 4 February 2025.
    • Frankie Gilmour, 35, of HMP Edinburgh, has died on 5 February 2025.
    • Nathan Hynes, 27, of HMP Low Moss, has died on 10 February 2025.
    • Stuart McLaren, 30, of HMP Glenochil, has died on 13 February 2025.
    • Martin Myles, 42, of HMP Barlinnie, has died on 14 February 2025.
    • Duncan Hendrie, 26, of HMP Glenochil, has died on 20 February 2025.
    • Dean MacLeod, 43, of HMP Low Moss, has died on 2 March 2025.
    • John Holland, 55, of HMP Glenochil, has died on 19 March 2025.
    • Mark Connor, 51, of HMP Low Moss, has died on 21 March 2025.
    • Declan Smith, 29, of HMP Barlinnie, has died on 23 March 2025.

    • Ryan Knowles, 32, of HMP Barlinnie, has died on 1 April 2025.
    • John Hanson, 84, of HMP Edinburgh, has died on 9 April 2025.
    • Kieran Beck, 27, of HMP Edinburgh, has died on 10 April 2025.
    • David Rodger, 63, of HMP Edinburgh, has died on 15 April 2025.

Download data from previous years

You may wish to note that:

  • We report deaths in custody in this section of our website once we have received notification that the individual's next of kin has been informed.
  • The term 'Event of Undetermined Intent' used in the tables is an outcome where the exact intent of the individual concerned cannot be ascertained.
  • A Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory into the death of a person who dies in prison under the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016. There is one potential exception to this and that is that the Lord Advocate may decide an inquiry is not to be held if he/she is satisfied that the circumstances of the death have been sufficiently established in criminal proceedings. The decision to hold an FAI (and the timing of a Sheriff Court being petitioned to hold an FAI) is a matter for the Lord Advocate/Procurator Fiscal.  The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service are responsible for the hosting, administration and management of Inquiry. The Scottish  Prison Service’s role in the inquiry is as a participant only, but we assist the Procurator Fiscal throughout the investigative stage.
  • Information concerning details of any FAI preliminary hearings and inquiry dates can be found on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website. Copies of FAI determinations can be found on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website.

Bereavement support

When a loved one passes away in prison it can be difficult to recover from the grief of the loss in such circumstances.

Find out what support is availible to you.

Support for Family and Friends
Chaplin with group of prisoners at Low Moss