A record 66 deaths occurred in New South Wales custody and police operations last year, according to the state coroner's annual report. The figure is 18 more than in 2024, with 39 deaths in custody and 27 resulting from police operations.
The report, released by State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan, revealed that 12 of the 39 in-custody deaths were Indigenous Australians, the highest number ever recorded. Half of these deaths were attributed to self-harm or accidental overdose, five to natural causes, and one remained unknown. O'Sullivan described the milestone as "profoundly distressing," adding that each death represents a person whose loss is felt deeply by families and communities.
Nine of the 39 prison deaths were ruled intentional self-harm, with eight involving hanging, despite a $16 million investment by Corrective Services NSW to remove ligature points from nearly 800 cells. A government spokesperson said the work was ongoing, with an additional 145 cells expected to be completed by July 2025.
The report also highlighted a record number of people on remand, partly due to more bail refusals, with the Indigenous remand population surging by 63% in five years. Fifteen of those who died in custody were on remand, and the causes of five deaths (almost 13%) were unknown, prompting additional toxicology testing by Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, which found no new drug trends.
Of the 27 deaths from police operations, a third occurred in car pursuit crashes, a trend the coroner said raised concerns about the need for safeguards before officers engage in chases. Three deaths involved sedation for agitation management, and five occurred during attempts to contain or restrain individuals.
