Wiltshire recorded three deaths during 2025-26 that fell within the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s annual reporting on deaths during or following police contact, according to new figures published today (Thursday).
The statistics show there was one apparent suicide following their release from police custody and two other deaths following police conduct in the county during the reporting period.
Locally there were no deaths involving people while being arrested or held in custody, and no deaths in police-involved road traffic collisions.
The figures are included in the IOPC’s latest annual ‘Deaths during or following police contact’ report, which examines cases across England and Wales to help identify trends, improve policing and reduce the number of deaths.
Across England and Wales, the watchdog began 102 independent investigations into 104 deaths during or following police contact during the year.
The report found there were 67 apparent suicides following police custody nationally, up from 61 the previous year. One of those cases was independently investigated by the IOPC, while the remaining cases were investigated locally by police forces.
There were also 27 deaths in or following police custody across England and Wales. While this was an increase on the previous year, the IOPC said the figure was broadly in line with the previous two years and came as the number of people detained by police continued to rise, exceeding 900,000 in 2024-25.
Road traffic fatalities linked to police involvement fell from 26 to 15 during the year.
The report also found force, including physical restraint, was used in 28 of the deaths recorded, including four fatal police shootings. Just under half of all custody deaths involved the use of force.
Mental ill health, drugs and alcohol continued to be common factors in many of the deaths examined.
IOPC Director General Rachel Watson said: “These numbers are not merely statistics. While deaths during or following police contact remain rare, we must not lose sight of the devastating human impact of every single one.
“Investigations play a vital role in protecting people’s human rights and ensuring the public can have confidence in policing.
“Our work delivers accountability, helps establish the circumstances of each death and delivers real change to improve policing for the benefit of both the public and frontline officers.”
She added: “These cases have had a devastating impact on those affected and we understand some of these figures may be concerning, but it is important to remember that these tragic cases account for a tiny proportion of the hundreds of thousands of people detained by police each year.
“Through our learning and research we continue to work with police to reduce these deaths where possible.
“In the last year alone, we have seen new guidance for all forces as part of ongoing work to ensure those at risk of self-harm following police custody get the support they need, and our recommendations are leading to improved training for custody staff and changes to working practices that support officers to provide the best level of care they can.”
The IOPC said around a third of the 66 recommendations it issued during 2025 came directly from investigations and reviews into deaths during or following police contact.
Those recommendations have led to changes including improvements to police training, equipment, risk assessments and call handling procedures.
The watchdog also said its work has contributed to updated national guidance on caring for detainees with head injuries, custody handover procedures and the handling of missing person cases under the Right Care Right Person policy.
