Philip Owen

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2019-0330
Date of Report 2 October 2019
Coroner Alison Owen
Response Deadline est. 3 January 2020
All 1 response received · Deadline: 3 Jan 2020
Sent To
Response Status
Responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 3 Jan 2020
All responses received
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Coroner's Concerns
_ The Inquest heard evidence from the Prison and Probation Service that; as was demonstrated in this case, there are significant challenges that are difficult to mitigate to ensure a safe release from custody where a very short custodial sentence is imposed which means an individual who is a high risk offender is eligible for immediate release_ This is compounded where as in this case there is no significant licence period that the Probation Service can supervise; There was a lack of clarity as to how effectively these risks had been communicated to those involved in sentencing and what if any guidance existed support them in taking steps to minimise the risks to the public; It was unclear how much information was shared with the court regarding the level of risk by the Prosecution or the Probation Service and what expectations were or guidance to those assisting a sentencing court in the discharge of their duty:
Responses
the HM Prison and Probation Service
10 Dec 2019
Response received
View full response
HM Prison & Probation Service HM Prison and Probation Service Post Point 14.05 Southem House Ms Allson Mutch OBE Wellesley Grove HM Senior Coroner Croydon CRO IXN Coroner's Court Mount Tabor Street Stockport SKI 3AG mailto_coroners office@stockportgok uk 10 December 2019 Your reference: 5702/CH Ceaer Thank you for your Regulation 28 report addressed to the Ministry of Justice, dated 2 October; following the inquest into the death of Philip Vernon Owen. We are grateful for your observations on the circumstances of Mr Owen's death: it is important that we learn the lessons from any case where the actions of an offender have led to tragic consequences; You identified communication of information about the level of risk posed by the offender as an important factor in enabling the court to take proper account of risk when passing sentence. To ensure that such communlcation is effective, it is essential (hat systematic arrangements are in place to ensure regular and frequent Iiaison between the courts and probation providers: Securing and maintaining a high standard of court Iiaison has been the subject of detailed joint working between the judiciary and Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS): On 20 July 2018, a Probation Instruction (PI 05/2018) was issued setting out the arrangements that have been agreed between the Ministry of Justice and the Senior Presiding Judge. There is a mandatory requirement for Iiaison both at national level _ including through the National Improvement Team and National Sentencer Probation Forum and at local level, including through liaison meetings in the Crown Court-and-tha-Judicial-Delivery -Greups (magistrales'-eourte} Fhe-PH-elso-makes provisien fof problem resolution in the Crown Court and the magistrates' courts It can be viewed at the following link: bttps Iwjustice gov ukloffenderslprobation-instructionsIPL_052018 Llaison_Arrangements doc Der Senar the

hope that the measures have described provide assurance of the HMPPS's commitment to working with sentencers to address issues of shared concern, including risk assessment and appropriate sentencing: Yows muyta, HM Prison & Probation Service
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you have the power to take such action:
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 1st November 2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of Philip Vernon Owen The investigation concluded on the 22nd August 2019 and the conclusion was one of Unlawful Killing: The medical cause of death was 1a) Stab wound to the neck:
Circumstances of the Death
On 30th October 2016 at Phillip Vernon Owen was killed by a stab wound to the neck by an individual: At the time of Phillip Owen's death; the individual had been and was involved with a number of state agencies. Subsequent to Philip Owen's death, the individual was diagnosed with a severe and enduring mental illness, namely Schizoaffective Disorder Manic Type. The individual had been known to mental health services (GMMH) for a number of years: In 2013 the individual was diagnosed with Schizophrenia that was likely to be due to a functional psychiatric illness_ In early 2014 the individual was referred to the Early Intervention Team (EIT) In 2014 there was a detention under the mental health act during which the primary diagnosis was Paranoid Schizophrenia. He was subsequently an inpatient on 5 further occasions the time ranging from 4 weeks to week. The last admission before Philip

Owen's death was on 24th June 2016 until 11th July 2016.The diagnosis recorded in discharge summaries reflected a view that drug use was driving the psychosis: The diagnosis of a drug-induced psychosis was confirmed by the community psychiatrist: The electronic system was not amended. The individual ceased to use antipsychotics in the community and this was accepted by the EIT. On 23rd September 2016 an incident involving the individual's brother was reported to the EIT. On 27ih September 2016 the individual went to his mother's home address and assaulted her by strangulation: The individual was subsequently arrested, interviewed and charged with a S.39 assault on his mother: He appeared at court on 30th September 2016 and was remanded in custody to HMP Manchester: On 29th September 2016 a meeting discussed possible discharge of the individual from EIT but no clear decision was taken: On 3rd October 2016 whilst in HMP Manchester, the individual took steps to take his own life. He was moved to the hospital wing: An assessment by a psychiatrist on 10th October 2016 concluded that there was an active psychotic illness, possibly drug-induced: Medicine for psychosis was prescribed. On 11th October 2016 there was a further attempt by the individual to take life. On 13th October 2016 the individual was sentenced by the court to custody for the assault on his mother. He was due to be released on that day: The unusual step was taken to hold back his release to 14h October 2016 by HMP , due to concerns about the risks of an unplanned release on 13th October 2016. On 14h October 2016 the EIT discharged the individual from their service. They failed to follow their own discharge process and failed to put an effective plan in place to manage the individual: On 14th October 2016 the AMHP and care co-ordinator were made aware verbally that the prison consultant psychiatrist felt a Mental Health Act assessment was required. No written documentation was sent through in relation to that: The Mental Health Act assessment did not take place because the AMHP care CO-ordinator agreed without seeing the individual that one was not required. There was a failure to fully assess the risks of not carrying out such an assessment: In the period between the individual's release and the death of Phillip Owen, he was not assessed by Mental Health services. There was a failure to have an effective risk assessment in place within Mental Health services after his discharge from their team: On 1glh October 2016 a MARAC meeting agreed a multi-agency meeting was required and his days and would take place after the return from annual leave of the care CO-ordinator: On 23rd October 2016 a further incident was reported to Mental Health services and Greater Manchester Police involving the individual's grandmother: The probation officer assigned to the individual was unsuccessful in attempts to meet with him: She conducted a risk assessment and identified the risk he posed to the public and his family as high: telephone call was made to the probation service on 28th October 2016 by the individual's father expressing concerns regarding the individual's mental health. This was not passed on to the Mental Health services to action despite the individual being identified as high risk: On 30th October 2016 Philip Owen was found dead in his flat: The individual was subsequently arrested on 2nd November 2016 whilst awaiting Mental Health assessment: It is likely that the aggregation of the failures, created the circumstances whereby the killing could take place
Related Inquiry Recommendations

Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes

Prevent discharge of hospitalised children with concerns until home is safe
Laming Inquiry
Public protection planning Care and discharge planning
Publish Exercise Reports and Lessons
COVID-19 Inquiry
Public protection planning
Amend GLOS to allow claimants oral submissions at panel hearings
Post Office Horizon Inquiry
Public protection planning
Post Office to engage in negotiations during HSSA appeal period
Post Office Horizon Inquiry
Public protection planning
Clarify whether HCRS and OCS assessment processes differ
Post Office Horizon Inquiry
Public protection planning
Local authorities examine contractual arrangements
Fuller Inquiry
Public protection planning
Increased use of police Designing Out Crime Officers
Angiolini Inquiry
Public protection planning
Targeted and consistent public messaging
Angiolini Inquiry
Public protection planning
Empowering and engaging citizens to take action
Angiolini Inquiry
Public protection planning
National roll-out of Project Vigilant
Angiolini Inquiry
Public protection planning

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.