Avoidable deaths in police custody: more can be done to protect lives says IAPDC
The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC) has today, 2 December 2022, published a report which brings together, for the first time, a wide range of policing practice across England and Wales to prevent deaths at the point of arrest, during and after custody.
The report finds that many police forces have forged partnerships with allied health and justice services to play to professional strengths, reduce inappropriate use of police time and prevent deaths in custody. However, practice is not uniform across England and Wales, with limited evidence that forces are sharing findings after a death, involving bereaved families in driving change or working with healthcare partners to provide effective support for vulnerable individuals following release.
The report forms part of a joint police leadership initiative with the Home Office, initially led by former Policing Minister, the Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP, to drive forward the Government’s zero-tolerance approach to police custody deaths.
The IAPDC makes 25 recommendations in its report, addressed to police forces, police and crime commissioners, policing organisations, health trusts, ambulance associations, local authorities and others, including:
greater collaboration across agencies, particularly healthcare, to support people experiencing a mental health crisis;
improved support for vulnerable individuals who are released, particularly those at risk of suicide; and
better sharing and embedding of learning, particularly learning from bereaved families, the Home Office, coroners and investigatory bodies.
Juliet Lyon, Chair of the IAPDC, said:
It’s clear from the submissions we received that good leadership, a structured approach, strong partnerships with health and ambulance services and a preparedness to learn from tragedy and the experience of bereaved families can prevent future deaths.
We will continue working with Ministers, police and crime commissioners and police chiefs to ensure that good practice is better shared and a zero-tolerance approach to deaths in custody is developed and maintained.