While Keir Starmer faces accusations of "appeasing" big tech firms over online safety measures, a different kind of safety crisis has been quietly exploding behind prison walls. Deaths in custody that are still "awaiting further info" have quadrupled from 10 to 45 in just one year.

The contrast is stark. Politicians debate how to protect people from online harm while the number of unexplained deaths in our prisons has surged 350% in 2024. These aren't just statistics. They represent 45 families waiting for answers about how their loved ones died in state custody.

What makes this surge particularly troubling is the category itself. "Awaiting further info" means these deaths haven't been classified yet. They're in limbo. Families don't know if their relative died by suicide, from natural causes, or something else entirely. The Ministry of Justice simply hasn't determined what happened.

This spike comes at a time when Britain's prisons are bursting. Overcrowding has reached crisis levels, with some facilities operating at 150% capacity. But even accounting for higher prisoner numbers, a 350% increase in unexplained deaths suggests something has gone seriously wrong with either prison safety systems or the investigation process itself.

The timing raises uncomfortable questions about priorities. The government has faced sustained pressure over online safety legislation, with campaigners arguing that social media platforms need tougher regulation to prevent harm. Yet inside our prisons, people are dying at unprecedented rates in circumstances that remain unexplained months later.

Prison deaths have always occurred, but they used to be investigated and classified relatively quickly. The dramatic rise in cases "awaiting further info" suggests either a breakdown in the investigation system or deaths so complex they're taking far longer to understand. Neither explanation is reassuring for families seeking closure.

These 45 cases represent more than bureaucratic delays. Each one is a person who entered state custody alive and left in a body bag, with their family still waiting to learn why. While ministers debate the finer points of tech regulation, this crisis of unexplained prison deaths demands immediate attention.

The numbers tell a story of institutional failure. In 2023, just 10 deaths were awaiting classification. By 2024, that figure had exploded to 45. Something fundamental has changed in how Britain's prison system operates, and families are paying the price in unanswered questions and prolonged grief.