A watchdog investigation is underway after the death of a man inside a Salford prison, with few details yet released about the circumstances.

Barry Howard, 36, died on 16 April while in custody at HMP Forest Bank. His death has triggered a mandatory independent inquiry by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, which examines every death in prisons across England and Wales.

At this stage, it remains unclear whether Mr Howard had been sentenced or was being held on remand. Officials have also not disclosed how he died. An inquest, which will seek to establish the facts, has not yet been formally opened.

The ombudsman confirmed its investigation is now in progress and said a full report will be made public once the inquest has concluded, a process that can often take months.

Forest Bank, a Category B men’s prison in Pendlebury, is run by private contractor Sodexo. The jail has faced repeated scrutiny over safety standards and deaths in custody in recent years, raising ongoing questions about conditions inside the facility.

Despite those concerns, Sodexo was awarded a fresh ten year contract in 2025 to continue operating the prison.

In a brief statement, a spokesperson for Forest Bank said the thoughts of staff were with Mr Howard’s family and friends, adding that it would not be appropriate to comment further while the inquest process is ongoing.