Annual report on deaths during or following police contact in 2014/15 published

23 Jul 2015 02:51 PM

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has yesterday published its annual report on deaths during or following police contact in 2014/15.

It shows:

• There were 17 deaths in or following police custody.  This is an increase from 11 last year (the lowest number since our recording began in 04/05), but is broadly in line with the average number of such deaths over the last six years.   This has remained at less than half the number recorded when the IPCC was first set up.
• There was one fatal police shooting, the first in three years.
• There were 14 road traffic fatalities, continuing a downward trend, particularly in relation to pursuit-related deaths,of which there were 7.
• There were 69 apparent suicides following custody, continuing the rise in recent years, which may be related to improved identification and reporting. 
• The IPCC also investigated 41 other deaths following contact with the police in a wide range of circumstances, including 26 people who died after concerns were raised with the police about their safety or well-being.

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

• Eight of the 17 people who died in or after police custody and half of those apparently committing suicide after custody had mental health concerns.
• Nearly all of those who died in or following police custody (16 of 17), and over a third of those who apparently committed suicide following custody, had links to drugs or alcohol.

IPCC Chair Dame Anne Owers said: “The police face particular challenges in dealing with people who are mentally ill, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  I welcome the efforts being made to ensure that those who need medical assistance do not end up in police cells but are dealt with in an appropriate healthcare setting.

“One of the IPCC’s most important functions is to investigate deaths in or following police custody, to make sure that lessons are learned and future deaths prevented wherever possible. It is essential for the families of those who died that they know and understand what happened and why.

“Regrettably, our investigations have too often exposed the same issues: inadequate risk assessments; token checks on a person in custody; insufficient handovers between custody staff; a failure to recognise or properly deal with people with mental health concerns or substance abuse issues; poor liaison between police and other agencies

“I welcome the revised guidance on detention and custody being issued shortly by the College of Policing, which our recommendations have contributed to. Police forces need to ensure that all staff working in a custody environment are trained on its content, to help make sure those in custody are kept safe.

“It is also encouraging to see more joint working between policing and healthcare providers including the introduction of street triage, and liaison and diversion schemes.  We also welcome the plan to transfer responsibility for healthcare provision in police custody in England to the NHS.”

Notes to editors:

For media queries contact the IPCC press office on 02920-266317

The report Deaths during of following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 2014/15 is on our website. The statistics include some force-specific data. Additional data tables are also available.

The IPCC has raised a number of issues concerning the treatment of those detained by police, including:

• An assessment of vulnerability should inform the initial response and all further actions of the police, including decisions on whether a person needs to be taken to custody, a healthcare setting or a place of safety
• Every person who enters custody should be risk assessed.  If someone is unable to interact with the risk assessment process then this is a sign that custody may not be the most appropriate place for them
• It is essential that checks and rousing are carried out at the frequency and standard expected.  During a rousing check a grunt or a snore is not an adequate response to determine any change in an individual’s consciousness level.  Rousing is only adequate once a comprehensive verbal response has been heard.
• Those who are drunk and incapable should be treated medically, and those who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs should be placed on rousing checks and their condition assessed.
•  Taser should only be used in custody in exceptional circumstances as it is a confined space, and drive stun mode should not be used purely as a means of pain compliance.
• Use of force should be proportionate, lawful and only carried out for as long as is necessary.  Alternatives to restraint should be used as far as possible, but where used this should be recorded to determine whether it is being used disproportionately. Appropriate equipment must be used and vital signs monitored throughout any restraint.