HMP Leeds death could have been prevented by information sharing – BBC News
‘A prisoner may not have died if information was passed on about his suicidal thoughts, a coroner has said.’
BBC News, 24th October 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: suicide
Family of vulnerable man found dead in Dorset prison demand reforms – The Guardian
‘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.’
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.’
EIN Blog, 15th October 2021
Source: www.ein.org.uk
A Decent Death – London Review of Books
‘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.’
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.’
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.’
The Independent, 12th October 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Are asylum suicides an unfolding national tragedy? – BBC News
‘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”.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
The Guardian, 26th 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.’
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
‘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.’
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.’
Local Government Update, 25th June 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Jodey Whiting: Disabled woman’s suicide ‘a direct result’ of benefit cut – BBC News
‘A disabled woman’s suicide was “a direct result” of having her benefits cut, the High Court has been told.’
BBC News, 22nd June 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Deepcut: Fifth Army recruit died at barracks – BBC News
‘A fifth soldier died at an Army base where four recruits were found dead between 1995 and 2002, it has emerged.’
BBC News, 11th June 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Torture victims kept in solitary by Home Office for up to a year – The Guardian
‘The Home Office has pursued a policy of psychological brutality by locking up scores of torture survivors in solitary confinement for indefinite periods, according to fresh testimony from immigration detainees.’
The Guardian, 15th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Philippa Day death: family launches legal challenge against DWP – The Guardian
‘The family of Philippa Day, a mentally ill single mother who died from a deliberate overdose after her benefits were wrongly cut off, is to seek compensation from the government.’
The Guardian, 10th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Deaths of people on benefits prompt inquiry call – BBC News
‘The family of a woman who took a fatal overdose after her benefit payments were cut say they have begun a legal claim against the government.’
BBC News, 10th May 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
