2023 statistics on Prevention of Future Death reports released

In May 2024, the Coroner’s Statistics for 2023 were published for England and Wales. Please see details regarding the full report here.

The key points to takeaway are:

• There was an overall decrease in the number of deaths reported to Coroners – down 6% (13,400) compared to 2022. 
• Deaths in state detention decreased 8% on the year before, attributed to a fall in deaths of those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Prison custody deaths increased 3% on the previous year.
• There were a total of 36,900 Inquests opened in 2023. This represents the highest number of inquests opened since the start of the annual time series in 1995. 1% of all inquests heard in 2023 were before juries.
• 891 inquests were suspended in 2023 by the Coroner because criminal proceedings took place.
• In regards to inquest conclusions – in 2023, 39,500 inquest conclusions were recorded in total, up 11% on 2022. The most common conclusions (in order) were misadventure, natural causes and suicide.
• The number of Prevention of Future Deaths Reports (“PFDs”) issued in inquests heard in 2023 was recorded as 569. This was a 41% increase compared to 2022 and equates to a report being made in 1% of all inquests heard in 2023.
• In addressing the scope of PFDs and where these take place, the London region issued 93 PFDs, the highest number as a proportion of inquests concluded (3%). London also issued the highest proportion in 2022 (2%).
• The West Midlands region issued the lowest number of reports (50) as a proportion of inquests concluded (1%). Although 8 Coroners areas issued no PFD reports in 2023.

If you would like any further information about inquests or the Coronial process generally, please do not hesitate to get in touch.