Man died of heatstroke in London court cell after ‘serious failings’ – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in death in custody, health & safety, inquests, news by sally

‘A watchdog has said “serious failings” must be addressed after a man died from severe heatstroke after being kept in a police van and unventilated court cell on one of the hottest days in London for years.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Seeking a secret inquest? A lesson in how NOT to go about asking for reporting restrictions – UK Human Rights Blog

‘When seeking any order it always helps to make the right application, to the right court, following the right procedure. Although when it does go horribly wrong it at least provides valuable learning for the rest of us.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st July 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Annabella Landsberg: HMP Peterborough inmate’s death ‘shocking’ – BBC News

Posted April 5th, 2019 in death in custody, news, prisons, restraint by tracey

‘The events leading to the death of a prisoner after she was restrained and left on the floor for 21 hours were “truly shocking”, a report has said. HMP Peterborough staff thought Annabella Landsberg was “play-acting” when she stayed on her cell floor after being restrained on 2 September 2017. However, when examined the next day the 45-year-old was found to be seriously unwell and later died in hospital.’

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BBC News, 4th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Catalogue of failings led to death of ‘gentle’ man at detention centre – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2019 in death in custody, detention, immigration, inquests, news by sally

‘A catalogue of failings contributed to the killing of a “gentle and polite” man in immigration detention, an inquest jury has found.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office apologises for failings that led to detention centre death – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2019 in death in custody, detention, immigration, news by sally

‘A senior Home Office official has repeatedly apologised for shortcomings that led to the killing of a “gentle and polite” man in immigration detention, at an inquest into his death.’

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The Guardian, 19th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police restraint caused or contributed to death of teacher – inquest – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2019 in death in custody, inquests, mental health, news, police, restraint by tracey

‘A poet and teacher with mental health issues died after he was restrained in a prone position at a police station in west Wales, an inquest jury has found.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Javid accused of giving way to police over no conferring rule – Home Office

Posted January 18th, 2019 in codes of practice, death in custody, firearms, inquests, news, ombudsmen, police by tracey

‘The government was accused of watering down plans for a total ban on police conferring after the deaths of suspects, after it approved new rules for officers following the most controversial cases. The home secretary, Sajid Javid, on Thursday approved revised rules first drawn up by the police watchdog in 2014, but changed after fierce opposition from the police and claims that armed officers would lay down their weapons in protest.’

Home Office press release

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The Guardian, 17th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office criticised for deleting records on death of detainee – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2018 in coroners, death in custody, detention, immigration, news, statistics by tracey

‘A coroner has accused the Home Office of “manipulating statistics” relating to deaths in immigration detention after it emerged that some records relating to the death of a detainee had been deleted.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inquest concludes into self-inflicted death of Ellie Brabant in mental health unit run by Southern Health – Garden Court Chambers

Posted December 12th, 2018 in death in custody, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘The inquest into the self-inflicted death of Ellie Brabant has concluded, with the coroner finding that the lack of a clear care plan, and the decision to discharge Ellie from Section 3 of the Mental Health Act more than minimally contributed to her death. Her family were represented by Sarah Hemingway of the Garden Court Chambers Civil Liberties Team.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 13th November 2018

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

CPS criticised as charges dropped over death of man in UK detention camp – The Guardian

‘The family of a man found dead in an immigration detention centre have reacted with fury to a decision to drop criminal charges against two private firms.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Out of control’: prison watchdog warns of synthetic drug crisis – The Guardian

Posted October 12th, 2018 in death in custody, drug abuse, news, prisons by sally

‘An epidemic of synthetic drugs in prisons is “completely out of control” and the “new normal”, a prison deaths watchdog has warned, as signs emerge that the impact is spreading to immigration removal centres and bail hostels.’

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The Guardian, 11th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS to take no action against police over death of Leon Briggs – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, death in custody, mental health, news, police, prosecutions by tracey

‘The police watchdog passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in March 2016 concerning two Bedfordshire police constables, three sergeants and a member of police staff, suggesting they may have committed crimes over the death of Leon Briggs in 2013. In January prosecutors said no action would be taken against one of the officers, and they have now confirmed that the other five people will also face no charges.’

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The Guardian, 12th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rashan Charles investigation finds officer’s failings were not deliberate – Independent Office for Police Conduct

‘An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the incident in east London in July 2017 in which Rashan Charles died has found that the performance of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer who restrained Mr Charles fell short of expected standards.’

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Independent Office for Police Conduct, 15th August 2018

Source: policeconduct.gov.uk

Police custody deaths hit 10-year high, with experts citing austerity – The Guardian

‘Police custody deaths have hit their highest level in a decade with police, campaigners and experts warning that austerity and a crisis in mental health services have driven the figure up.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inquest jury condemns Surrey police over death of man placed in spit hood – The Guardian

Posted July 6th, 2018 in death in custody, inquests, news, police, restraint by tracey

‘A jury has found that Surrey police seriously failed in its duty of care to a 33-year-old labourer who was handcuffed, placed in leg restraints and had a spit hood placed over his head in the hours before he died.’

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The Guardian, 5th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rashan Charles: Family brand inquest a ‘farce’ after jury finds death was accidental – The Independent

Posted June 21st, 2018 in accidents, death in custody, inquiries, news, police by tracey

‘The family of a young man who died while being restrained by police have branded the inquest a “farce”. Rashan Charles, 20, died in July last year after being chased into a shop in Hackney, east London, where CCTV showed an officer from the Metropolitan Police struggling with him on the floor. The jury found his death was an accident following justified use of force.’

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The Independent, 20th June 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Nine police officers under investigation over death of mentally ill man restrained in custody – The Independent

Posted May 9th, 2018 in death in custody, mental health, news, police, restraint by tracey

‘Nine police officers are being investigated over the death of a man who was taken to hospital after being restrained by police.’

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The Independent, 9th May 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Nearly 100 women die in prison over 11-year period due to ‘glaring failures’ by government, says report – The Independent

Posted May 2nd, 2018 in death in custody, news, prisons, women by tracey

‘The government has been accused of a “glaring failure” to act on deaths of women in custody as figures show almost 100 female inmates have died in just over a decade. More than 10 years on from the Corston Report, which outlined the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to vulnerable women in the criminal justice system, there has been “little systemic change” as women “continue to die” in custody, according to a report by charity Inquest.’

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The Independent, 2nd May 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Thomas Orchard custody death: Police force charged – BBC News

Posted April 26th, 2018 in corporate manslaughter, death in custody, health & safety, news, police by sally

‘A police force has been charged over the death of a man in custody.’

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BBC News, 24th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sean Rigg custody death: Met directed to begin hearings – BBC News

Posted April 16th, 2018 in death in custody, misfeasance in public office, news, police, restraint by tracey

‘The police watchdog has directed the Met Police to begin gross misconduct hearings against five officers over the custody death of a mentally ill man. Sean Rigg, who had schizophrenia, died from cardiac arrest at Brixton police station in August 2008 after being restrained by officers. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said officers should face hearings over their actions.’

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BBC News, 13th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk