WIREDGOV

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is today publishing its annual report on deaths during or following police contact in 2015/16.

It shows:

• There were 14 deaths in or following police custody. This is a decrease from 17 recorded last year, and is broadly in line with the average number of such deaths over the last seven years. This has remained at less than half the number recorded when the IPCC was first set up.
• There were three fatal police shootings, the second highest figure recorded since 2004/05.  All are subject to ongoing IPCC investigations.
• There were 21 road traffic fatalities, an increase of seven on last year, but the number remains lower compared to figures recorded before 2011/12. Thirteen of the deaths were from police pursuit-related incidents.
• There were 60 apparent suicides following police custody, compared to 70 recorded the previous year. This is the lowest figure since 2012/13 but remains higher than figures recorded before that year.
• The IPCC also investigated 102 other deaths following contact with the police in a wide range of circumstances, up from 43 the previous year. This reflects a substantial increase in the number of independent investigations the IPCC is carrying out, with additional resources, rather than any definite rise in people dying in such circumstances. This category is dependent on the IPCC conducting an independent investigation.

As in previous years, mental health and links to drugs or alcohol were common factors among many of those who died.

• Seven of the 14 people who died in or following police custody, and more than half of those apparently committing suicide after custody, had known mental health concerns. 
• 12 (of the14) people who died in or following police custody, and almost half of those who apparently committed suicide following custody, had known links to drugs and / or alcohol.

Of the 102 ‘other deaths’ category, 92 fatalities followed contact with the police, whether directly or indirectly, as a result of a concern for welfare – of these, one in three (32) were about a report of a missing person. Fifteen fatalities followed concern for welfare linked to domestic related incidents – broadly the same proportion as last year.

Of the 60 apparent suicides, 22 of those who died had been arrested for an alleged sexual offence – 17 of these involved offences against children.