On 28 July, the latest annual statistics on deaths in police custody generated headline news. The figures, collected by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), showed that 23 people died in police custody in 2022-23, much higher than the recent trend.
Table: Deaths in or following Police Custody
Source: IOPC, 28 July 2023
The IOPC’s acting director general, Tom Whiting, said: “Sadly, we have seen a significant rise this year in the number of deaths in or following police custody, up to 23 from 11, and the highest figure recorded for five years. While last year’s figure was particularly low, the fact we have seen a sharp reverse is concerning and raises challenges which spread well beyond policing.”
Vulnerability due to mental health
As in recent years, the majority of cases were connected to mental health and use of alcohol and drugs:
Thirteen of 23 people who died in or following police custody had mental health concerns.
Twenty-one people who died in or following police custody had links to drugs and/or alcohol.
Almost two-thirds (55) of those who died following other police contact were reported to have mental health concerns.
A similar proportion (55) were reported to be intoxicated with drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the incident, or it featured heavily in their lifestyle.
Sixteen fatalities following other police contact related to concern about a person’s risk of self-harm, suicide, or their mental health. A further twelve people were reported to the police as missing, with a specific risk of self-harm or suicide.
Risk of ineffective collection and sharing healthcare information
We can put the IOPC data together with evidence collected by other authorities. The importance of effective information on healthcare in police custody is clear.
There have been 20 reports from coroners, for example on police related deaths since October 2021. Of these, coroners raised concerns over poor recording or sharing of health information in five cases.
NHS England publishes independent investigation reports to establish what lessons are to be learned from a case of homicide, suicide or serious harm. A key theme of concern is inadequate handovers between agencies, based on incomplete healthcare information.
The police and prisons inspectorates carry out regular inspections of police custody suites. There were 10 in 2022 and 2021. In seven of the 10 cases, the inspectorates raise concern over the transfer of information between custody and detention officers.
Improving outcomes – SONAR and Right Care, Right Person
SONAR is specifically designed to address these concerns and so to improve health outcomes. It can connect healthcare information in police custody both to NHS data and to other areas of the criminal justice system. It aims not only to improve data collection but also to remove the problems of transition and handovers.
The best way to implement SONAR would be for NHS England to commission a single electronic case management system across all 42 police forces, using the same procurement framework as those currently used for general practice and health and criminal justice (GP IT Technical Innovation Framework (TIF) and Health & Justice Information Services, HJIS2). This would integrate health information across the forces and open the door to shared information across health and justice.
Tom Whiting also emphasised the importance of providing effective mental health support for vulnerable people. The IOPC will monitor the Right Care, Right Person scheme, by which people with mental health needs will be responded by mental health professionals rather than police officers. The scheme was developed by Humberside Police and is now being rolled out nationwide.
Conclusion
This year’s statistics were a shock to all those concerned with improving healthcare in justice settings. Let’s hope they can be a catalyst for a better way forward.
John White
Founder and CEO
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