Deepcut deaths: army ‘treating victims’ families with contempt’ – The Guardian

‘The sister of Pte Sean Benton, who committed suicide at Deepcut barracks, has accused the British army of treating victims’ families with contempt after it emerged that the military had failed to honour a pledge made at his inquest in 2018.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

People with mental illness in criminal justice system failed ‘at every stage’ – The Independent

‘The criminal justice system is “failing” people with a mental illness “at every stage”, a major report has found has found.’

Full Story

The Independent, 17h November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Soldier suicide in Windsor prompts coroner to issue recommendations – BBC News

‘A soldier’s suicide has prompted a coroner to issue a series of recommendations to the Army to prevent similar deaths in the future.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Capita pays compensation to family of woman who died after benefits cut – The Guardian

‘A government contractor has paid out “substantial” compensation following the death of a young mother who took an overdose after her disability benefits were removed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Julian Assange: what to expect from the extradition appeal – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2021 in appeals, extradition, mental health, news, spying, suicide by sally

‘The year began with a legal defeat for an attempt to extradite Julian Assange to face espionage charges in the US, but he has remained in Belmarsh prison pending an appeal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

HMP Leeds death could have been prevented by information sharing – BBC News

Posted October 25th, 2021 in coroners, death in custody, inquests, law firms, mental health, news, prisons, solicitors, suicide by tracey

‘A prisoner may not have died if information was passed on about his suicidal thoughts, a coroner has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 24th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family of vulnerable man found dead in Dorset prison demand reforms – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2021 in inquests, mental health, news, post-traumatic stress disorder, prisons, suicide by sally

‘The family of a vulnerable prisoner found hanged in his cell have called for improvements in how inmates with mental health issues are cared for after an inquest jury concluded there was a string of failings in his care.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Upper Tribunal decides modified Paposhvili test applies to mental illness/risk of suicide cases – EIN Blog

‘In MY (Suicide risk after Paposhvili) Occupied Palestinian Authority [2021] UKUT 232 (IAC) (23 August 2021), the Upper Tribunal made it clear from the outset that the appellant’s appeal was allowed on Article 3 health grounds, which was the determinative issue in the appeal.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 15th October 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk

A Decent Death – London Review of Books

Posted October 14th, 2021 in assisted suicide, human rights, news, prosecutions, suicide by sally

‘The​ law of England and Wales – Scotland’s law is not in all respects the same – has come a long way in my 82 years. Absurdly and cruelly, until the 1961 Suicide Act was passed it was a crime to kill yourself. While those who succeeded were beyond the law’s reach, those who tried and failed could be sent to jail. In the 1920s the home secretary had to release a Middlesbrough woman with fourteen children who had been given three months in prison for trying to kill herself. There is a Pythonesque sketch waiting to be written about a judge passing a sentence of imprisonment for attempted suicide: “Let this be a lesson to you and to any others who may be thinking of killing themselves.” In fact, by the mid 19th century the law had got itself into such a tangle that a person injured in a failed attempt at suicide could be indicted for wounding with intent to kill, an offence for which Parliament had thoughtfully provided the death penalty.’

Full Story

London Review of Books, 21st October 2021

Source: www.lrb.co.uk

High Court refuses fresh inquest in welfare benefits case – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Dove v HM Assistant Coroner to Teeside and Hartlepool & Anor [2021] EWHC 2511, the High Court considered the State’s obligations under article 2 ECHR with respect to those in receipt of welfare benefits as well as the scope of coronial inquiries both where article 2 is and isn’t engaged. Although it was argued that failings by the Department of Work and Pensions were relevant to a death by suicide, a fresh inquest was refused in the circumstances.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 13th October 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Police officer guilty of misconduct over handling of mental health patient who died in custody – The Independent

‘A police sergeant who failed to properly assess a “vulnerable” woman in his custody who later died is guilty of gross misconduct.’

Full Story

The Independent, 12th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Are asylum suicides an unfolding national tragedy? – BBC News

Posted October 12th, 2021 in asylum, mental health, news, suicide, young persons by sally

‘After fleeing his native Eritrea as a child and living for years as a refugee, Henok Zaid Gebrsslasie hoped to make a life for himself in the UK. Aged 23, he was found dead at a mental health facility in Coventry, West Midlands, and is thought to have taken his own life. His death is one of a growing number among young asylum seekers which a charity said could just be the “tip of the iceberg”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

School’s failure to monitor internet use contributed to teenage girl’s suicide, coroner rules – The Independent

‘A school’s failure to sufficiently monitor the internet activity of an autistic teenage girl “contributed” to her suicide, a coroner has concluded.’

Full Story

The Independent, 7th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Church of England admits failures over priest falsely accused of child abuse – The Independent

‘The Church of England has apologised for its role in the suicide of a former priest, who spent a year under investigation over unfounded rumours of child abuse.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Leeds prison punished inmates by restricting showers, report finds – The Guardian

‘Prisoners were unlawfully prevented from showering daily as punishment for poor behaviour, with shielding and self-isolating inmates also unable to do so, according to a damning report.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Complete removal of hope’: an inmate on life in a close supervision centre – The Guardian

‘Case study: Kevan Thakrar says the high suicide and self-harm rates in CSCs are no surprise.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

British army identifies serious failings over soldier’s death – reports – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2021 in armed forces, bullying, complaints, delay, inquiries, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘The British army has identified serious failings in its handling of the death of a soldier whose body lay undiscovered at a base for three weeks, according to reports.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dove v HM Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2021] EWHC 1738 (Admin) – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘In this article, Richard Ive discusses the case of Dove v HM Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2021] EWHC 1738 (Admin), which raises important questions relating to Article 2 (the right to life). On 11 June 2021, the Administrative Court heard procedural arguments concerning a late application by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to join, as an interested party, a claim pursuant to the Coroners Act 1988 s.13 for a further inquest into the death of a highly vulnerable woman who took her own life shortly after all her Department of Work and Pensions (“DWP”) benefits were stopped. The Secretary of State’s application was successful, providing her with the opportunity to make submissions at the full hearing heard by the Divisional Court on 22 June 2021.’

Full Story

Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 29th June 2021

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

R (Morahan) v HM Coroner for West London [2021] EWHC 1603 (Admin) – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

Posted June 25th, 2021 in coroners, human rights, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘In this article, Ed Ramsay discusses the recent case of Morahan, which deals with the issue of when the enhanced investigative duty under Article 2 of the ECHR will be automatically engaged in an inquest.’

Full Story

Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 22nd June 2021

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Court of Protection case update – Local Government Update

‘Aaqib Javed and Holly Littlewood review the latest cases of interest to Court of Protection practitioners.’

Full Story

Local Government Update, 25th June 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk