Andrew Hall inquest: Police used ‘justified’ force on man who died – BBC News

‘Police officers used “justified, necessary and proportionate” force to restrain a man who later died, an inquest jury has found.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police watchdog threatened with legal action over inquiry into man’s death – The Guardian

‘The police watchdog has been threatened with legal action for refusing to investigate whether the conduct of officers who restrained a man for a significant period of time committed a criminal offence or that their behaviour amounts to misconduct.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Immigration removal and an Article 2 inquest – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R (Lawal) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2021), Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), Unreported, JR/626/2020 (V).
The death of an immigration detainee, as with all prisoners, is rightly subject to legal scrutiny. This is because detainees are completely under the state’s control. Article 2 ECHR requires that the state carry out an effective investigation into all deaths in detention where there is a reasonable suspicion that the death was unnatural. A coroner is required to hold an inquest into all deaths in custody, and specifically a jury inquest where there is reason to suspect the death is violent or unnatural. In this case, a two-judge panel of the Upper Tribunal (President of the Upper Tribunal, Mr Justice Lane, and Upper Tribunal Judge Canavan) found that the respondent Home Secretary had breached her Article 2 procedural obligations in respect of deaths in immigration detention. In particular, she had failed to ensure that crucial witness evidence was secured for use at an inquest and had failed to halt the deportation of a relevant witness.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 29th April 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Home Office breaching human rights law by failing to investigate detainee deaths, court rules – The Independent

‘The Home Office’s policy for investigating deaths in immigration detention has been found to breach human rights law.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th April 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police watchdog expands inquiry into death of Mohamud Hassan – The Guardian

‘The police watchdog has begun an investigation into another four police officers as part of its inquiry into the sudden death of a man shortly after being released from custody.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police watchdog says Mohamud Hassan may have been injured during disturbance at home – The Guardian

‘The police watchdog investigating the arrest of a man who died suddenly after being released from custody, have indicated he could have suffered injuries during a large disturbance at his home the night before his death.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

IOPC investigates five Thames Valley police officers over death of man, 24 – The Guardian

‘Five police officers are under investigation for manslaughter after the death of a 24-year-old man in police custody earlier this month.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

BLM UK to fund ‘people’s tribunal’ for deaths in custody – The Guardian

Posted February 18th, 2021 in death in custody, news, police, prisons, tribunals by sally

‘Black Lives Matter UK has announced £45,000 of funding to the United Families and Friends Campaign to set up a “people’s tribunal” for deaths in custody.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police officer given misconduct notice over Mohamud Hassan’s death – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2021 in complaints, death in custody, disciplinary procedures, news, police by sally

‘A police officer has been served with a misconduct notice as part of an investigation into the sudden death of a 24-year-old shortly after he was released from custody.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met police officer faces new hearing over death of mentally ill black man – The Guardian

‘A senior police officer cleared of misconduct over the high-profile death of a mentally ill black man is to face fresh disciplinary proceedings because of failings in the original case, the Observer can reveal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Families of citizens dying after contact with police still await justice – The Guardian

‘Relatives of people who have died after contact with the police have told of their distrust in and dissatisfaction with the ability of the complaints system to help deliver justice.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Death of Cardiff man after night in police custody ‘deeply concerning’ – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2021 in complaints, death in custody, news, police, Wales by tracey

‘The Welsh first minister has described the sudden and unexplained death of a 24-year-old man from Cardiff hours after his release from custody as “deeply concerning”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

A duty of care – what does the new standard of proof in inquests mean? – 5SAH

‘On the 11th of July 2016 a prisoner Mr James Maughan was found dead in his prison cell having hanged himself. The investigation into the factual circumstances surrounding his death found that he had a history of mental health issues and had previously made threats of self-harm. The evening before his death he had been in an agitated state.’

Full Story

5SAH, 7th January 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Supreme Court reduces standard of proof for suicide and unlawful killing in inquest conclusions – Park Square Barristers

‘The Supreme Court has on 13 November 2020 handed down the judgment in this case concerning the appropriate standard of proof for conclusions at inquests.’

Full Story

Park Square Barristers, 13th November 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Met police restraint contributed to death of mentally ill man, jury finds – The Guardian

‘The police’s inappropriate use of restraints on a mentally ill man contributed to his death, an inquest jury has found.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Deaths from natural causes in English and Welsh prisons ‘unacceptably high’ – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2020 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The number of deaths from natural causes on the prison estate is “unacceptably high”, a watchdog has warned, urging ministers to do more to allow inmates to be allowed out to die.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Christopher Alder: Legal action sought over body mix-up – BBC News

‘The sister of a man found in a mortuary 11 years after he was believed to have been buried is planning to take legal action against South Yorkshire Police.’

Full Story

BBC News, 25th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Death of baby in Cheshire prison prompts investigation – The Guardian

Posted June 22nd, 2020 in birth, death in custody, news, pregnancy, prisons by sally

‘The prison service has launched an investigation following the death of a baby in prison, the Guardian has learned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of black man who died in UK police custody speak out – The Guardian

‘The family of a black man who died in police custody in Devon last month have said they still have no idea of the circumstances that led to his death and are demanding answers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Racism campaigners call for police watchdog to be abolished – The Guardian

‘Black families in the UK whose loved ones have died in incidents involving the police have called for the abolition of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates the police, and the immediate suspension of officers involved in deaths as part of a new plan to address systemic racism and unlawful killings.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com