Police given misconduct notices over girl’s M5 death – BBC News

‘Two police officers have been served with misconduct notices after a 17-year-old girl died after fleeing a police vehicle, the watchdog has announced.’

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BBC News, 28th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Deaths in police custody reach 17-year high, figures reveal – The Independent

Posted October 18th, 2024 in accidents, death in custody, news, ombudsmen, police, road traffic, statistics, suicide by sally

‘The number of people to die in police custody last year is the highest in almost two decades, new figures have revealed.’

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The Independent, 17th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Strangeways jail put in emergency measures over ‘catastrophic’ levels of drugs and violence – The Independent

‘The notorious Strangeways prison has been put into emergency measures after standards of safety and hygiene were found to have collapsed, leaving the jail “fundamentally unsafe” for both prisoners and staff.’

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The Independent, 10th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoner found dead after inadequate welfare check – BBC News

Posted September 4th, 2024 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons by tracey

‘A welfare check on the morning of a prisoner’s death “fell short” of the required standards, a report by the prison ombudsman has said.’

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BBC News, 3rd September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police custody death investigated by watchdog – BBC News

Posted August 20th, 2024 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, police by tracey

‘A man’s death after he was arrested and held in custody in Surrey is being investigated by the police watchdog.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquest finds inadequate care contributed to death of Frazer Williams who took his life at HMP Guys Marsh – Garden Court Chambers

‘Inadequate diagnosis and treatment of Frazer Williams’ mental health condition was among the probable causes of the 28-year-old’s death at HMP Guy’s Marsh, a jury unanimously found.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

‘Outdated and offensive’: police in England and Wales barred from blaming restraint deaths on ‘excited delirium’ – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2024 in death in custody, drug abuse, mental health, news, ombudsmen, police, racism by sally

‘The police watchdog for England and Wales has removed a controversial medical term from its incident forms after claims it plays into racist stereotypes and detracts attention from police brutality.’

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The Guardian, 20th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘It’s an excuse to overreach’: families’ anger over UK police restraint deaths blamed on disputed condition – The Guardian

‘Acute behavioural disturbance and excited delirium have been cited in police watchdog reports and inquests into 44 deaths – but campaigners say it is pseudoscience.’

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The Guardian, 17th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

HMP Woodhill: Prison staff made insufficient checks on inmate found dead – BBC News

‘Prison staff failed to properly check on a prisoner the morning he was found dead, the prisons ombudsman has ruled.’

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BBC News, 18th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman whose baby was stillborn in HMP Styal praises sentencing changes – The Guardian

‘A former prisoner who gave birth to a stillborn baby in a jail toilet has welcomed changes that campaigners hope will reduce the number of pregnant women locked up, as a “legacy” for the daughter she lost.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

List of prison deaths to be published in move ‘from secrecy to openness’ – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in death in custody, disclosure, Ministry of Justice, news, ombudsmen, prisons, statistics by michael

‘The prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO) will post weekly updates identifying those who have died, the prison where they were being held and the date of their death.’

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The Independent, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New guide to help evidence the role of racism in state-custody deaths – JUSTICE

Posted February 21st, 2024 in bereavement, death in custody, families, inquests, news, racism by sally

‘A new guide released today (21/2/24) provides lawyers representing families bereaved by deaths in police custody, prisons, immigration detention, and mental health settings with the legal expertise to raise the potential role of race and racism at inquests. It also provides foundational knowledge and strategy to coroners to ensure they satisfy their duty in fully investigating the circumstances in state custody deaths.’

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JUSTICE, 21st February 2024

Source: justice.org.uk

Revealed: 16 years in prison for stealing a bike and no hope of release – as 7 trapped in jail kill themselves – The Independent

‘Seven inmates trapped in prison under indefinite jail terms have taken their own lives since the government refused to resentence them, The Independent can reveal. The prisons watchdog has launched investigations into a string of self-inflicted deaths amid a “worrying rise” in incidents among imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners – with campaigners warning the “hopelessness” associated with the controversial sentences is having tragic consequences.’

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The Independent, 19th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mother whose baby died in prison calls for end to pregnant women being jailed – The Independent

‘A mother whose baby died when she gave birth alone in her prison cell has urged ministers to stop sending pregnant women to jail.’

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The Independent, 14th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Trevor Monerville: Coroner criticises ‘unacceptable’ care of Black epileptic man who died in prison – The Independent

‘Healthcare and prison officers ignored “multiple warnings” about prisoner’s condition amid a “woeful” lack of understanding around his seizures, lawyers claim.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prison inmates ‘at risk of death’ due to healthcare failings, says inquest report – The Guardian

Posted October 4th, 2023 in death in custody, health & safety, inquests, mental health, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘An inquest report has warned that prisoners are “at risk of death” because of failures in the healthcare system, after a man killed himself at Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London 48 hours after arriving there.’

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The Guardian, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The state of prisons in England and Wales – in numbers – The Guardian

Posted September 26th, 2023 in budgets, death in custody, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘A prisoner escape, widespread overcrowding and the refusal of a German court to extradite a man to the UK because of concerns about jail conditions in Britain have all put the focus back on the creaking prison system.’

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The Guardian, 26th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronial powers and the rights of the unborn (Part 1) – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In this two-part article, Maya Sikand KC, Tom Stoate, and Ruby Peacock, explore two difficult questions arising from the inquest into the “harrowing circumstances” of the death of a baby, Aisha Cleary, at HMP Bronzefield. This first part seeks to answer the question: should coroners have jurisdiction to investigate stillbirths?’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th August 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

HMP Bronzefield baby death followed systemic failings – inquest – BBC News

‘A baby died after her “vulnerable” 18-year-old mother gave birth alone in a jail cell following “systemic failings” by state agencies, a coroner has said.’

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BBC News, 29th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMP Stoke Heath must improve emergency response after death – BBC News

Posted May 19th, 2023 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons by tracey

‘Staff at HMP Stoke Heath must be better prepared to deal with medical emergencies after an inmate died in the prison’s yard, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk