State Custody related deaths

PFD Category
Reports: 357 Areas: 57 Earliest: Aug 2013 Latest: 8 Apr 2026

74% response rate (above 63% average). 58% of classified responses show concrete action taken. Reports rose 40% from 25 (2023) to 35 (2024).

PFD Reports
161 results
Stephen Tidey
All Responded
2018-0140 8 May 2018 Surrey
Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Trust Surrey County Council Surrey Police
Concerns summary (AI summary) Inadequate recording of changes in suicide risk assessments and significant delays by mental health services in acting on high-risk MASH referrals following a critical trigger event.
Noted (AI summary) The Trust has already implemented a standardised log for Single Combined Assessment of Risk Forms (SCARF) across Community Mental Health Recovery Service (CMHRS) teams. They have also devised a new checking system between the MASH and the CMHRS teams and set up an automated email reply from the Mental Health/Drug & Alcohol inbox within the MASH. Surrey Police explains how Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) reports are processed upon receipt and graded for risk. They state that they do not monitor partner agency responses and suggest forwarding one question to SABP and Adult Social Care.
John Chapman
All Responded
2018-0007 11 Jan 2018 Lancashire
HMP Wymott
Concerns summary (AI summary) A critical lack of formal procedures for sharing prisoner self-harm and welfare alerts between prison reception staff and healthcare nurses during medical screenings created a risk of significant alerts being missed.
Action Taken (AI summary) All reception staff at HMP Preston have been given a copy of PSI 07/2015 and made it an objective to read and comply; revised suicide and self-harm prevention training is being rolled out, prioritising reception staff; emergency boxes with resuscitation aids are on all residential units, and all staff with prisoner contact will be issued resuscitation aids by June; contingency plans have been amended to ensure staff are informed about the manner of all non-natural deaths. The prison and healthcare services have agreed that PER forms will be passed to the reception nurse as a matter of routine, who must then document within the SystemOne record that the form has been received and considered; they are exploring incorporating this check into the record system as part of the existing reception health screen template.
John O’Meara
All Responded
2018-0012 10 Jan 2018 London (West)
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
Concerns summary (AI summary) Prison officers inconsistently followed Code Blue/Red procedures, delaying emergency response and Naloxone administration due to inadequate training. There's also an insufficient number of passive drug detection dogs to control Novel Psychoactive Substances.
Action Taken (AI summary) Regular notices to staff are published, signs are displayed in all offices and information about emergency response procedures is included in the induction for all new staff; notices have been attached to all cell doors in the First Night Centre; the London and Thames Valley regional search team is currently recruiting additional dog handlers to increase the service provided to prisons in the region, including HMP Wormwood Scrubs, which will be provided with a total of seven dog handlers, with both passive and active search and patrol dogs.
Jason Basalat
All Responded
2017-0423 27 Nov 2017 Milton Keynes
HM Courts and Tribunals Service Northamptonshire Police
Concerns summary (AI summary) Poor information sharing between police, magistrates' court, and prison meant the prison lacked critical details about a vulnerable prisoner's mental state, and a mental health assessment couldn't be arranged.
Action Planned (AI summary) Custody officers and staff have been reminded of guidance on completing Prisoner Escort Record (PER) forms and ensuring relevant documentation accompanies them. Contact will be made with the national police lead on Custody to suggest a review of the PER form. The court will liaise with criminal justice agencies, the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team, and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to review procedures for sharing information about vulnerable adults remanded to prison. Legal advisers have been reminded to forward CPNI forms or suitably endorse warrants.
Sam Molyneux
All Responded
2017-0340 13 Sep 2017 Liverpool & Wirral
HM Prison & Probation Service
Concerns summary (AI summary) Old prison wings lacking anti-barricade doors delayed emergency access, and a prisoner with documented self-harm threats was not placed on an appropriate monitoring plan (ACCT).
Action Planned (AI summary) HM Prison & Probation Service will revise the ACCT form and PSI 64/2011 Safer Custody policy to direct staff to consider emergency access, including the presence of an anti-barricade door, when locating prisoners on ACCT. This will also be included in ACCT case manager training.
Sean Plumstead
All Responded
2017-0316 9 Aug 2017 Hampshire (Central)
Carillion HM Prison and Probation Services HM Prison Winchester
Concerns summary (AI summary) Winchester Prison has inadequate systems for storing electronic material and creating transcripts, leading to missing crucial evidence. This recurring issue raises a risk of future deaths due to poor record-keeping.
Action Planned (AI summary) HMP Winchester has taken on a temporary staff member to transcribe telephone calls, implemented a new protocol for information gathering, transcribed interview discs, and ordered a secure storage facility for documentation regarding any death in custody. The Head of Business Assurance is reviewing accounting systems and storage of internal investigation material. Carillion has contacted HMPPS and proposed a formal instruction for staff to undergo SASH training, is ready to issue a notice to site managers to make staff available, and suggested that HMPPS maintain a training record for Carillion staff. HMPPS has confirmed that all Carillion prisoner facing staff should be required to undergo training. The prison has issued notices to staff regarding emergency call bell response times and to prisoners about the misuse of call bells. The prison is also checking ECB response times daily and bidding for funding to upgrade the ECB system; nationally, a learning bulletin will be issued to staff on ECB importance and abuse in early 2018.
Edwin O’Donnell
All Responded
2017-0258 13 Jul 2017 Liverpool & Wirral
HM Prison and Probation Services
Concerns summary (AI summary) Prison health reception screening failed due to lack of access to critical mental wellbeing documents and significant delays in follow-up screening. Additionally, probation staff lacked adequate ACCT training.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Senior Officer in reception now provides a copy of the Person Escort Record (PER) to healthcare staff and reception staff have been made aware of this process. The individual concerned has been reminded of the circumstances under which it is appropriate to open an ACCT, and suicide and self-harm training is being rolled out to all staff.
Richard Walsh
All Responded
2016-0377 25 Oct 2016 London Inner (South)
DAC Beachcroft LLP Department of Health and Social Care Hampshire County Council +3 more
Concerns summary (AI summary) There were failures in communication between custodial and health professionals regarding the deceased's risks and needs, with crucial information being lost as he moved through different services; there was a lack of a national process for sharing mental health assessment information.
Noted (AI summary) Virgin Care has implemented a process to ensure colleagues have completed ACCT awareness training and are aware of PSI 1700 upon starting at HMP High Down, with annual refresher training. An auditing process has also been implemented for Fitness for Segregation forms, carried out by Lead Nurses. The Department of Health has brought concerns regarding AMHP training to the attention of the HCPC, which sets criteria and approves training programs. Responsibility for AMHP training is due to become the responsibility of a new regulator; Social Work England, in 2018. The Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) states that its existing criteria for AMHP training programs are appropriate and that individuals completing training have acquired the necessary skills in carrying out mental health assessments. They suggest that issues are best addressed by Local Social Services Authorities through ongoing training. Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council have taken several actions, including reviewing AMHP practices, providing additional training, commissioning audits, and reviewing policies. The HCPC reviewed documentation and closed the case, taking no further action regarding the AMHP's fitness to practice.
Roy Hoey
All Responded
2016-0360 13 Oct 2016 Liverpool and Wirral
National Offender Management Service
Concerns summary (AI summary) Concerns arose from staff confusion regarding the interpretation and application of safer custody guidance, specifically when to open an ACCT plan, requiring clarification on mandatory assessment before initiation.
Action Planned (AI summary) NOMS acknowledges potential confusion regarding ACCT guidance and will resolve this in the revision of PSI 64/2011, due for completion by the end of April 2017; the revised version will be easier for staff to read and understand.
Wayne Cornlouer
All Responded
2016-0356 12 Oct 2016 Dorset
HMP Portland
Concerns summary (AI summary) An emergency coding system for medical emergencies was not initially in Night Orders, raising concerns if all staff are now aware of its recent inclusion and proper use.
Action Taken (AI summary) A notice to staff was re-issued on 28 September 2016 reminding staff about emergency codes and ambulance requests; the local emergency code protocol has been distributed and displayed. The induction programme for new staff is being updated to include guidance on the local emergency protocol and all existing staff will receive a personal briefing.
Michael Williams
All Responded
2016-0245 11 Jul 2016 Leicester City and Leicestershire South
HMP Leicester
Concerns summary (AI summary) Prison staff missed mandated observations and used predictable intervals for checks. There was an inappropriate delay in responding after a cell observation panel was blocked, indicating a lack of clear training.
Action Taken (AI summary) HMP Leicester reminded staff about conducting observations at unpredictable times, management checks are in place, ACCT documents are quality assured, the contingency plan was revised, and staff were trained to intervene quickly if the observation panel has been blocked.
Anthony Fraser
All Responded
2016-0225 8 Jun 2016 South Yorkshire (East)
HMP Lindholme
Concerns summary (AI summary) Summary medical information was not conveyed to the receiving A&E department upon transfer, and there is no system for ensuring such information is sent; a system needs to be implemented to convey such information for every inmate transferred with an acute illness.
Action Taken (AI summary) Following concerns raised, the Trust co-authored a procedure with HMP Lindholme to convey summary medical information to A&E departments during inmate transfers, and the procedure has been issued to staff and is now in operation; a review of compliance will be undertaken.
Ronnie Olliffe
All Responded
2016-0224 15 May 2016 Mid Kent and Medway
HMP Rochester
Concerns summary (AI summary) There was a failure to issue a Code Blue appropriately, a lack of understanding about its emergency consequences, and a failure to use an available defibrillator.
Action Taken (AI summary) Following a failure to issue a Code Blue, all night staff at HMP&YOI Rochester were issued copies of PSI 03/2013 and signed to confirm understanding. A Notice to Staff was issued and pocket-sized cards explaining the codes were ordered for all staff, and a defibrillator demonstration was provided.
Luke Ayres
All Responded
2016-0148 15 Apr 2016 Birmingham and Solihull
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health N…
Concerns summary (AI summary) Delays in emergency response were caused by a cut-off 999 call, a staff member providing ambulance information from a distance without current patient status, and paramedics not being immediately escorted to the ward.
Action Planned (AI summary) The trust has improvement measures in place including implementation of a single anti barricade system, replacement of 70 observation panels and piloting of a new clinical handover tool. The trust will also implement a more robust approach to Environmental and ligature risk assessments and extend the simulation of medical emergencies on wards.
Kevin Forster
All Responded
2015-0453 28 Oct 2015 County Durham and Darlington
G4S National Offender Management Service
Concerns summary (AI summary) HMP Durham had a serious drug problem, but staff lacked awareness and training on overdose policies, leading to complacent responses, inadequate treatment plans, and delayed emergency calls for prisoners under the influence.
Action Taken (AI summary) Healthcare staff have been reminded of the importance of full and contemporaneous notes, and training has been provided on substance misuse; clinical guidelines are being developed for substance misuse issues, including a treatment plan template on SystmOne. Posters are planned for discipline staff areas, and training will be repeated to prison officers on emergency code allocation. All staff have signed to confirm their understanding of the Emergency Code Protocol, and managers have verified their awareness. Pocket-sized cards explaining the protocol have been issued, and the protocol is displayed in prominent areas and explained to new staff during onboarding; the protocol has been an agenda item at team meetings, and the issue has been addressed by the Deputy Governor and the Governor.
Samuel Gale
All Responded
2015-0454 23 Oct 2015 South Yorkshire (East)
HMP and YOI Doncaster
Concerns summary (AI summary) A prisoner's ACCT plan was closed without consulting crucial healthcare and management staff, suggesting a critical lapse in multi-disciplinary oversight for vulnerable individuals.
Action Planned (AI summary) Policy changes have been made so that only a manager grade can close an ACCT, and ACCTs cannot be closed unless the case review comprises at least two people and all actions on the CAREMAP have been completed; HMP & YOI Doncaster will seek to move to a case management model during 2016 whereby a nominated case manager manages a case load so that continuity of care is improved. NHS England is reviewing templates for first night screening and risk assessment as part of the deployment of a new Health & Justice Information System, with rollout expected from July 2016 to July 2017.
Luke Myers
All Responded
2015-0292 20 Jul 2015 Liverpool
National Offenders Management Service
Concerns summary (AI summary) HMP Liverpool miscalculated the deceased's sentence, which was a likely factor in his death. Additionally, prison discipline staff lacked current first aid training, raising concerns for lone working officers.
Action Taken (AI summary) HMP Liverpool has reviewed sentence calculations and found no other miscalculated sentences. First aid training is being provided to all Custodial Managers who carry out orderly officer duties, and Operational Support Grade staff will also be trained.
Douglas Birch
All Responded
2015-0274 13 Jul 2015 Mid Kent and Medway
HMP Swaleside
Concerns summary (AI summary) Prison officers were either unaware of or failed to follow instructions requiring them to elicit a response from prisoners upon cell unlocking. They also did not consistently receive or read crucial Prison Service Orders.
Action Taken (AI summary) HMP Swaleside issued a notice to staff on 10 August 2015 setting out local procedure for welfare checks and requiring staff to sign to confirm checks have taken place. NOMS is compiling a learning bulletin for all staff on their intranet by the end of September.
Davin Short
All Responded
2015-0245 29 Jun 2015 Norfolk
HMP Wayland
Concerns summary (AI summary) The prison's lack of an electronic cell bell recording system and unclear guidance on radio use for healthcare staff create risks of medical emergencies being overlooked or delayed, endangering prisoners.
Action Taken (AI summary) HMP Wayland published a Governor's Order clarifying the recording of medical issues occurring overnight and amended the Local Security Strategy to support this. They also introduced a new radio system with more radios for healthcare staff. HMP Wayland has issued a Governor's Order instructing staff to record medical issues during the night in the wing observation book and amended the Local Security Strategy to reflect this procedure. A new radio system has been introduced at HMP Wayland and all healthcare staff are now routinely issued with radios.
Greg Revell
All Responded
2015-0165 28 Apr 2015 Leicester (City & South)
HM YOI Glen Parva Leicestershire Partnership Trust
Concerns summary (AI summary) Ineffective suicide prevention measures were evident, with a prisoner not placed on ACCT despite clear risk and a culture of avoiding such measures. Healthcare information systems were insufficient, leading to missed opportunities for vital medication and treatment.
Noted (AI summary) Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has implemented a robust system for seeking clinical information and has a flowchart identifying team member responsibilities. However, following review of the case notes, it was felt that anti-depressant medication was not clinically indicated and therefore an opportunity to restart medication was not missed. HM Prison and Probation Service has reinforced local policies to ensure ACCTs are opened on reception after a self-harm attempt, launched a new Safer Prisons strategy, provided training on recording risk information, and established a Safer Custody team. They have also reminded staff about comprehensive risk assessments and individual responsibility for safer custody.
Kingsley Burrell
All Responded
2015-0472 20 Mar 2015 Birmingham and Solihull
National mental health working group Association of Ambulance Chief Executiv… Association of Chief Police Officers +1 more
Concerns summary (AI summary) There is a national lack of understanding and training regarding acute behavioural disturbance and the risks of prolonged restraint. Additionally, specialized mental health crisis teams and updated patient conveying policies are not nationally implemented.
Action Planned (AI summary) AACE has been working with the NPCC, Home Office and the Department of Health to drive further improvements in both the speed of ambulance response and the proportion of patients conveyed by ambulance rather than police vehicles. The College of Policing, Health and Ambulance Service representatives are currently working together to devise a national protocol for the management of ABD in the pre-hospital setting. The Metropolitan Police national instruction is to monitor and review all service requests to mental health environments and for escalation and supervisory involvement on every occasion where police are requested to, or effect, restraint in health environment whatever the circumstances. Multi-agency membership includes NHS England, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Nursing, and NICE. The Department published the Crisis Care Concordat in 2014 to ensure that anyone experiencing a mental health crisis receives the right support in the right place. The Department has also funded a number of street triage pilot schemes where mental health professionals provide on the spot advice to police when dealing with people with possible mental health problems.
Darren Wright
All Responded
2015-0035 2 Feb 2015 Norfolk
HMP Norwich Serco Virgin Care Limited
Concerns summary (AI summary) Emergency response was hindered by a staff nurse's inability to locate the incident and a lack of recent CPR training among prison officers due to resource limitations.
Noted (AI summary) Serco states that they were the healthcare provider at HMP Norwich at the time of the death but no longer provide any services there and thus cannot implement the recommendations. They note that the report has been sent to HMP Norwich and Virgin Care. Virgin Care, the current healthcare provider at HMP Norwich, has instituted changes to its procedures, including a local induction process and checklist, and guidance for resuscitation in a joint protocol with HM Prison Service. These were put in place by March 31, 2015. HMP Norwich acknowledges the coroner's concerns regarding CPR training, outlines the current legislation and risk assessment process for first aid needs, and states that there is no requirement to provide AEDs or defibrillator training. They highlight the presence of a healthcare team providing 24-hour cover.
Alex Kelly
All Responded
2014-0555 28 Dec 2014 Mid Kent & Medway
HMP Cookham Wood Medway Youth Offending Team Ministry of Justice +2 more
Concerns summary (AI summary) A vulnerable child was sentenced without forensic psychiatric assessment, and mental health support conflicted with disciplinary procedures, failing to adopt a holistic approach or consult outside agencies. A social worker allocation was also significantly delayed.
Action Taken (AI summary) Tower Hamlets Council details actions taken following a Serious Case Review, including maintaining social worker numbers and updating a protocol with the Youth Offending Service to clarify responsibilities when a young person receives a custodial sentence. They also highlight increased awareness among Social Work staff due to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Central and North West London NHS Trust (CNWL) describes its Health and Wellbeing Team's structure and processes, including mental health assessments and improved office space and IT access. They state that all clinical contact is recorded on Systm1, with line managers checking staff entries and annual record keeping audits to monitor documentation standards, and training provided to new team members for Systm1 use. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust describes implementation of the CHAT tool for assessing new arrivals at HMPYOI Cookham Wood, with training and monitoring standards. They detail information governance training for staff and supervised medication dispensing procedures, including recording and reporting non-compliance. The Medway Youth Offending Service (YOT) describes actions taken in response to the coroner's concerns including ACCT training for the Resettlement Team, enhanced reviews overseen by a Governor, and submission of early release paperwork. They also detail procedures for initial planning meetings, maintaining contact, and final release meetings according to YJB National Standards. The Ministry of Justice outlines reforms in the Young People's Estate, including a standardised casework model, enhanced regimes, and changes to ACCT procedures. They detail night operating procedures and confirm that an information sharing protocol between relevant agencies at HMYOI Cookham Wood is being formulated.
Geraldine Kilborn
All Responded
2014-0532 10 Dec 2014 County Durham & Darlington
Care UK National Offender Management Service Tees Esk Wear Valley NHS Foundation Tru…
Concerns summary (AI summary) There was a clear breakdown in mental health information sharing within ACCT reviews, where mental health input was not sufficiently weighted and members often relied on potentially misleading face-to-face assessments without reviewing documentation.
Action Planned (AI summary) An amended arrangement has been put in place to facilitate the presence of a member of the mental health team at ACCT reviews that take place at the weekend. Effective mental health input is now ensured in all cases in which a prisoner has mental health issues. Briefing sessions have been introduced to facilitate the sharing of information between prison staff and the mental health team. From April 2015 the health service delivery model will change from a Prime Provider model to a 7 Lot commissioning model. Daily reviews will be undertaken by a member of the mental health team, as on any patient allocated for, Healthcare with mental health issues: In addition all complex ACCT cases will be discussed at morning handover to increase staff awareness. A registered nurse with previous knowledge of the patient will be in attendance at an ACCT review. TEWV has already made changes to the availability of Mental Health Team staff over the weekend. Staff are on duty between 9.30 am - 1230pm Saturday and Sunday, with a priority role to ensure that the relevant ACCT reviews are attended and that those women in crisis are offered support. Staff were reminded to read all the relevant information in the ACCT document and on System One notes.
Garry Gilbey
All Responded
2014-0533 10 Dec 2014 Portsmouth & South East Hampshire
Department of Health and Social Care Ministry of Justice
Concerns summary (AI summary) The prison lacked a clear policy for calling ambulances or defining medical emergencies, leading to inadequate staff training for night-time assessments and inconsistent recording of critical healthcare information.
Noted (AI summary) The Department of Health provides context regarding healthcare contracts for prisons being performance managed by NHS England's Area Teams, and refers to DH and NOMS guidance issued in 2011 regarding emergency access for ambulance services. They note that the Ministry of Justice will address prison-related issues such as training for non-medical prison staff. Since the death, Prison Service Instruction 2013/03 Emergency Response Codes has been issued, reminding staff who can call a medical emergency and providing guidance on the use of medical emergency codes. Also, the new specifications for prison healthcare services have a contractual requirement for the management of appointments and referrals, including automatic referrals to secondary care services for those who Did Not Attend (DNA).