Lukasz Lukasik

Self-inflicted Report published

HMP Hull (Prison)

Recommendations (6)
6 Accepted
Recommendation 1
The Governor and Head of Healthcare should ensure that following a court appearance by video link: the prisoner’s NOMIS record is updated with details of the hearing and the outcome; and staff should speak to the prisoner and consider whether the risk to themselves has changed.
The Governor and Head of Healthcare safeguarding Accepted
Response
In March 2022, the Head of Operations completed a further review of the procedures that must be undertaken following a prisoner’s court appearance by video link to ensure any change in risk is fully considered. All staff involved in the process have been briefed by line managers regarding the updated procedures to ensure they are aware that where there is a change in circumstance the prisoner should be taken to Reception to undergo a Reception Risk Review. Staff have also been reminded that the Visits Log Book and the prisoner’s NOMIS record should be updated with the details of the hearing and the outcome. In addition, these prisoners are seen by the Reception Nurse, who carries out an interview and assesses if the risk to themselves has changed. This is recorded on SystmOne.
Recommendation 2
The Governor should ensure that during a restricted regime, key work is delivered in line with the Exceptional Delivery Model.
The Governor safeguarding Accepted
Response
Since May 2022, regular key worker sessions have been reintroduced across the prison for all prisoners, in line with the original key work module. Key worker sessions are detailed on a daily basis by the wing manager and staff are briefed by the Supervising Officer. Key work key message briefings are also regularly delivered by the Offender Management Unit. The wing Custodial Manager completes a weekly 10% quality assurance check to ensure sessions have been fully recorded and meaningful interactions have taken place. The Deputy Governor has also recently commissioned a review of key work at the prison, to identify any areas where improvements can be made.
Recommendation 3
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that mental health staff consider the results of previous mental health assessments when completing the initial mental health assessment.
The Head of Healthcare mental_health Accepted
Response
Mental Health staff have been reminded of the importance of undertaking a thorough history check, including previous mental health assessments, communications and a check of SystmOne records, when carrying out mental health assessments. It is recognised that reading letters and communications is an essential process when undertaking checks on patients, which helps clarify diagnosis and identify medication issues. It also provides a timeline indicating the level of perceived distress and the level of support given. In addition, it can inform the practitioner if any of the interactions have been successful and whether to carry on or try new initiatives.
Recommendation 4
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that healthcare staff review the clinical management plans of newly arrived prisoners promptly.
The Head of Healthcare healthcare Accepted
Response
Healthcare staff have been briefed regarding the need to review the medical history of the patient, including any management plans and long-term conditions during the reception screening process. Where a need is identified the nurse will add the patient to the relevant waiting list, so that a more detailed and thorough plan of care can be put in place. This is done with the patient present, ensuring they are partners in their own care.
Recommendation 5
The Governor should ensure that all prison staff are made aware of and understand their responsibilities during medical emergencies, including that: night staff enter cells as quickly as possible in a life-threatening situation; and night staff use the appropriate medical emergency response code, by radio where possible, to effectively communicate the nature of the emergency.
The Governor emergency_response Accepted
Response
All permanent night staff have been provided with training on the procedures to follow during night status. This included the importance of entering a Safety cell as quickly as possible in the event of a life threatening situation following a dynamic risk assessment. Incidents are monitored on a daily basis as part of the Duty Governors Feedback meeting to ensure the correct procedures are being followed. Guidance is then provided where a need is identified. The Safer Prisons department have conducted morning drop-in sessions with staff regarding the correct use of the emergency codes and to reinforce the need to communicate these by radio wherever possible. All staff have also been given pocket cards that can be carried on their person, which outline the circumstances in which Code Red/Code Blue should be used so that appropriate medical assistance can be provided as quickly as possible. Posters have also been displayed around the establishment to make clear the requirement to call a Code Red/Code Blue should a medical emergency occur. A Governor’s Order was also re-published in July 2022 to remind staff of the actions that should be taken in the event of a medical emergency.
Recommendation 6
The Governor should ensure that this report is shared with staff mentioned in the report and that a senior manager discusses the Ombudsman’s findings with them.
The Governor communication Accepted
Response
The Head of Operations has met with both of the staff named in the report to discuss the findings and their individual roles to ensure any learning has been identified.
Full Report Text
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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Lukasz Lukasik,
a prisoner at HMP Hull,
on 27 May 2021
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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© Crown copyright, 2025
This report is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence,
visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
from the copyright holders concerned.
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The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman aims to make a significant contribution to safer,
fairer custody and community supervision. One of the most important ways in which we
work towards that aim is by carrying out independent investigations into deaths, due to any
cause, of prisoners, young people in detention, residents of approved premises and
detainees in immigration centres.
If my office is to best assist His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in
ensuring the standard of care received by those within service remit is appropriate, our
recommendations should be focused, evidenced and viable. This is especially the case if
there is evidence of systemic failure.
Mr Lukasz Lukasik was found hanged in his cell on 21 May 2021 at HMP Hull. He was 36
years old. I offer my condolences to Mr Lukasik’s family and friends.
On 14 May 2021, Mr Lukasik attended court by video link and changed his plea to guilty.
Prison and healthcare staff were unaware of the change in his circumstances and our
investigation found that Hull did not have a standard procedure for assessing whether
there had been a change in risk for prisoners after attending video link court hearings.
Prison staff initially completed regular welfare checks and there was little to indicate to
staff that he was at imminent risk of suicide.
There was a fourteen-minute delay between staff being unable to see Mr Lukasik in his
cell and returning to check on him again. An emergency code was not called for a further
seven minutes. Although this did not affect the outcome for Mr Lukasik as he had been
dead for some time, it could make a critical difference in future medical emergencies.
The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical and mental healthcare Mr Lukasik received
at Hull was not equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the
community.
Kimberley Bingham
Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman October 2022
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Contents
Summary ......................................................................................................................... 1
The Investigation Process ................................................................................................ 3
Background Information ................................................................................................... 3
Key Events ....................................................................................................................... 6
Findings ........................................................................................................................... 9
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Summary
Events
1. On 4 January 2021, Mr Lukasz Lukasik was remanded into prison custody charged
with murder and sent to HMP Hull. Mr Lukasik was a Polish national who had lived
in the United Kingdom for seventeen years. While he was in police custody, Mr
Lukasik dislocated his left shoulder.
2. Mr Lukasik did not disclose any thoughts of suicide or self-harm at Hull and he was
not managed under the Prison Service suicide and self-harm prevention procedures
(known as ACCT). On 6 January, he was discharged from the prison’s mental
health service.
3. On 14 May, Mr Lukasik attended court by video link. During the hearing, he
changed his plea to guilty. Prison and healthcare staff were unaware of Mr
Lukasik’s change of circumstances and his risk of suicide and self-harm was not
assessed.
4. At around 4.52am, on 27 May, an operational support grade (OSG) conducting a
roll check found Mr Lukasik hanging in his cell. The OSG radioed a medical
emergency code. Prison staff started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Healthcare responded but did not continue with CPR as it was clear Mr Lukasik was
dead. Paramedics attended and at 5.32am confirmed that he had died.
Findings
5. Mr Lukasik had some risk factors for suicide and self-harm. However, he appeared
to have settled well into prison and interacted well with other Polish prisoners. We
are satisfied that in the days and weeks leading to his death, there was nothing to
indicate that he was at increased risk of suicide and self-harm.
6. We are concerned that there is no evidence prison staff had any meaningful
interaction with Mr Lukasik after he attended court by video link. There is nothing in
his prison record about the hearing and staff were unaware that he had changed his
plea.
7. We found that prison staff initially completed welfare checks but nobody saw Mr
Lukasik for three weeks which covered the time that there was a change in his
circumstances. This was a missed opportunity to provide additional support to him
and to assess his risk of suicide and self-harm.
8. The OSG who completed the roll check did not return to Mr Lukasik’s cell for 14
minutes despite the fact she could not locate him in his cell. The OSG did not call
an emergency code for a further seven minutes after she found Mr Lukasik hanging
and there was a further delay of seven minutes before the prison nurse arrived.
9. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical and mental healthcare Mr Lukasik
received at Hull was not equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive
in the community.
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10. Mr Lukasik arrived at the prison with a dislocated shoulder and healthcare staff did
not appropriately assess his clinical management plan for several weeks. The
mental health nurse who assessed Mr Lukasik did not consider the outcome of a
mental health assessment that took place while he was in police custody.
Recommendations
• The Governor and Head of Healthcare should ensure that following a court
appearance by video link:
• the prisoner’s NOMIS record is updated with details of the hearing and the
outcome; and
• staff should speak to the prisoner and consider whether the risk to
themselves has changed.
• The Governor should ensure that during a restricted regime, key work is delivered in
line with the Exceptional Delivery Model.
• The Head of Healthcare should ensure that mental health staff consider the results of
previous mental health assessments when completing the initial mental health
assessment.
• The Head of Healthcare should ensure that healthcare staff review the clinical
management plans of newly arrived prisoners promptly.
• The Governor should ensure that all prison staff are made aware of and understand
their responsibilities during medical emergencies, including that:
• night staff enter cells as quickly as possible in a life-threatening situation; and
• night staff use the appropriate medical emergency response code, by radio
where possible, to effectively communicate the nature of the emergency.
• The Governor should ensure that this report is shared with staff mentioned in the
report and that a senior manager discusses the Ombudsman’s findings with them.
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The Investigation Process
11. The investigator issued notices to staff and prisoners at HMP Hull informing them of
the investigation and asking anyone with relevant information to contact them. No
one responded.
12. The investigator obtained copies of relevant extracts from Mr Lukasik’s prison and
medical records.
13. NHS England and Improvement commissioned a review of Mr Lukasik’s clinical
care at the prison. The investigator and clinical reviewer jointly interviewed
healthcare staff. All the interviews were conducted by video link because of the
restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
14. We informed HM Coroner for Hull of the investigation. He gave us the results of the
post-mortem examination. We have sent the coroner a copy of this report.
15. We wrote to Mr Lukasik’s next of kin, his mother, to explain the investigation and to
ask if she had any matters she wanted the investigation to consider. She did not
respond to our letter.
16. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS pointed out some factual inaccuracies and this report has been amended
accordingly. The action plan has been annexed to this report.
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Background Information
HMP Hull
17. HMP Hull is a local prison that holds up to 1,056 men. City Healthcare Partnership
provides health services. J wing is for vulnerable prisoners (those who are
separated from the main population, usually because of the type of offence they
have committed) and holds up to 130 men.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons
18. The most recent inspection of HMP Hull was in July 2021. Inspectors reported that
leaders had focused strongly on identification of risk in the early days in custody.
Reception staff had learned to enter into sufficiently detailed conversation with the
arriving prisoner to pick up signs of distress or risk of self-harm.
19. Inspectors found that interactions between officers and prisoners were generally
helpful and courteous, and it was evident that the relatively stable and experienced
staff group had sound knowledge of prisoners in their care. However, inspectors
also noted that on some wings, staff remained remote and disengaged.
Independent Monitoring Board
20. Each prison has an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of unpaid volunteers from
the local community who help to ensure that prisoners are treated fairly and
decently. In its latest annual report for the year to 28 February 2021, the IMB
reported that prisoners at risk of self-harm were carefully monitored.
21. The positive support provided by key workers was not always available to defuse
some of the situations in the prison and this had made it more difficult for some
prisoners to cope.
Previous deaths at HMP Hull
22. Mr Lukasik was the fourteenth prisoner to die at Hull since May 2019. Of the
previous deaths, six were self-inflicted, six were from natural causes and one was
drugs related.
23. In a previous investigation into the death of a prisoner at HMP Hull in November
2019, we made recommendations about the response of prison staff during medical
emergencies. The Prison Service accepted our recommendation and issued an
action plan which said that Hull had reviewed the staff induction programme to
include medical emergency codes so that all staff received instructions on how to
respond to medical emergencies. In April 2020, the prison issued a staff notice to
remind staff of their responsibilities during medical emergencies. It is disappointing
that we are having to raise this issue again in this report.
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Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork
24. Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) is the Prison Service care-
planning system used to support prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm. The
purpose of ACCT is to try to determine the level of risk, how to reduce the risk and
how best to monitor and supervise the prisoner.
25. After an initial assessment of the prisoner’s main concerns, levels of supervision
and interactions are set according to the perceived risk of harm. Checks should be
irregular to prevent the prisoner anticipating when they will occur. There should be
regular multidisciplinary review meetings involving the prisoner. As part of the
process, a caremap (plan of care, support and intervention) is put in place. The
ACCT plan should not be closed until all the actions of the caremap have been
completed.
26. All decisions made as part of the ACCT process and any relevant observations
about the prisoner should be written in the ACCT booklet, which accompanies the
prisoner as they move around the prison. Guidance on ACCT procedures is set out
in Prison Service Instruction 64/2011, Management of prisoners at risk of harm, to
self and from others (Safer Custody).
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Key Events
27. On 4 January 2021, Mr Lukasz Lukasik was remanded to HMP Hull charged with
murder. He had been in prison before. Mr Lukasik was a Polish national who had
lived in the United Kingdom for seventeen years.
28. A prison officer completed Mr Lukasik’s first night induction. The officer noted that
Mr Lukasik did not have any thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Prison staff
completed a cell sharing risk assessment (CRSA), which recorded that Mr Lukasik
was a high risk for sharing a cell. In line with COVID-19 restrictions, Mr Lukasik
was placed in isolation for fourteen days and allocated a single cell on G wing. Mr
Lukasik was not allocated a keyworker due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
29. A nurse completed Mr Lukasik’s initial health screen. She noted that Mr Lukasik
was a Polish speaker with good English. Mr Lukasik had a history of substance
misuse from 2018. He was treated for a dislocated left shoulder while he was in
police custody and asked the nurse for pain relief. Mr Lukasik did not have any
other physical health problems and was not taking medication. The nurse noted
that he was not at risk of suicide or self-harm. Mr Lukasik said he was aware that
he was facing a long prison sentence and did not regret his offence. Prison GPs
prescribed pain relief medication for his dislocated shoulder and he was advised to
wear a sling.
30. On 5 January, a social worker in the Mental Health Liaison and Diversion Services
(a service to improve the health and justice outcomes for adults who come into
contact with the criminal justice system where a range of complex needs are
identified as factors in their offending behaviour) contacted healthcare staff to
discuss how Mr Lukasik presented while he was in police custody. An assessment
under the Mental Health Act 1983 concluded that Mr Lukasik displayed some
evidence of mental illness and drug-induced psychosis, but he was not considered
suitable for hospital detention. Mr Lukasik was calm and polite with no evidence of
delusional thinking. There was no evidence that he was known to mental health
services and that he required further assessment in prison.
31. The same day, a nurse completed a secondary health assessment. Mr Lukasik told
the nurse that he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by a history of
physical abuse from his father. The nurse made a referral to the prison’s mental
health team.
32. The next day, a mental health nurse saw Mr Lukasik. She noted that he had
fleeting thoughts of suicide but did not intend to harm himself. He said that he felt
anxious when he first came to prison and he was assessed as having a moderate
level of anxiety and depression. The mental health nurse told the investigator that
Mr Lukasik’s moderate anxiety and depression was mitigated by what he said about
his plans to help himself. Mr Lukasik said he intended to get a job and gain IT
qualifications. She had no concerns about Mr Lukasik’s mental health and he was
discharged from the mental health service.
33. Prison staff completed welfare checks on the wing. Mr Lukasik did not have any
issues or concerns and told staff that he had made friends with other Polish
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prisoners. Mr Lukasik said that he felt settled on the wing but he was still
experiencing pain in his shoulder which prevented him from applying for a job.
34. On 8 March, Mr Lukasik had an x-ray of his left shoulder. The results showed a
possible rotator cuff tear. An orthopaedic specialist at Hull Royal Infirmary advised
an ultrasound scan and that a GP should complete an urgent review of the x-ray
results. A prison GP reviewed the x-ray results on 13 April and noted that Mr
Lukasik needed an ultrasound scan. This took place on 7 May.
14 May to 20 May
35. On 14 May, Mr Lukasik attended Leeds Crown Court by video link. The time of his
court appearance is not recorded. During the hearing, Mr Lukasik changed his plea
from not guilty to guilty. The Judge made a ‘Judge’s Remand Order’ which
remanded Mr Lukasik for sentencing rather than a trial. There is nothing about his
court appearance or the outcome recorded on either Mr Lukasik’s prison record or
the wing observation book. Mr Gary Sword, the Head of Residence and Safety, told
the investigator that the remand order was sent to HMP Leeds in error by the court
which meant that Hull staff were unaware of the change in Mr Lukasik’s
circumstances.
36. An officer escorted Mr Lukasik during his court appearance. The officer told the
investigator that he was not aware Mr Lukasik had changed his plea. After the
court proceedings had ended, the officer returned Mr Lukasik to the wing. He told
the investigator he was not aware that a change of circumstances should be
recorded or that he should be seen by healthcare staff.
37. On 18 May, a prison GP told Mr Lukasik that the scan results showed a rotator cuff
tear and he made a referral to an orthopaedic specialist.
38. At approximately 2.30pm on 20 May, a prison officer saw Mr Lukasik for a welfare
check. Mr Lukasik was happy to engage in conversation and did not raise any
issues or concerns. Mr Lukasik said that he kept in contact with a friend in the
community. There was nothing to suggest that he was in crisis.
39. At approximately 7.30pm on 26 May, an OSG completed a roll check. The OSG
told the investigator that she saw Mr Lukasik in his cell.
Events of 27 May
40. CCTV shows the OSG went to Mr Lukasik’s cell at 4.52am. They told the
investigator that they did not see Mr Lukasik in his cell. The OSG said they
assumed that the cell was empty and went to the wing office to check if a prisoner
was supposed to be in there.
41. The OSG returned to Mr Lukasik’s cell at 5.06am. They used her torch to see into
the cell and saw Mr Lukasik hanging from the toilet door.
42. CCTV shows that the OSG put their hand on their radio at 5.08am (we assume she
was radioing for assistance) and remained outside of Mr Lukasik’s cell. Shortly
after, an officer arrived at Mr Lukasik’s cell. Two officers entered Mr Lukasik’s cell
at 5.09am. One officer used their fish knife to remove the ligature. They started
CPR, assisted by another officer. At 5.13am, the OSG radioed an emergency code
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blue (indicating a prisoner is unconscious or having breathing difficulties). The
control room immediately called an ambulance.
43. At 5.20am, a nurse arrived at Mr Lukasik’s cell. The nurse did not continue CPR as
it was evident Mr Lukasik was already dead. The nurse said that Mr Lukasik’s
tongue was swollen and purple and rigor mortis was evident, all signs that Mr
Lukasik had been dead for some time. The paramedics arrived at 5.20am and at
5.32am, and confirmed that Mr Lukasik had died.
Contact with Mr Lukasik’s family
44. The prison appointed a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) and identified Mr Lukasik’s
friend as his next of kin. As Mr Lukasik’s friend was no longer living at the address
recorded on Mr Lukasik’s prison record, the prison asked for assistance from the
police. The police visited Mr Lukasik’s friend at approximately 12pm on 27 May and
broke the news of his death.
45. The same day, the police visited Mr Lukasik’s mother at her home and broke the
news of his death. The family liaison officer contacted Mr Lukasik’s mother and
offered support.
46. The prison contributed towards the cost of Mr Lukasik’s funeral in line with Prison
Service guidance.
Support for prisoners and staff
47. After Mr Lukasik’s death, a manager debriefed the staff involved in the emergency
response to ensure they had the opportunity to discuss any issues arising, and to
offer support. The staff care team also offered support.
48. The prison posted notices informing other prisoners of Mr Lukasik’s death and
offering support. Staff reviewed all prisoners assessed as being at risk of suicide or
self-harm in case they had been adversely affected by Mr Lukasik’s death.
Post-mortem report
49. A postmortem concluded the cause of death as hanging.
Inquest
50. An inquest on 4 December 2023 concluded Mr Lukasik’s death as suicide.
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Findings
Assessment of risk
51. Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 64/2011, which governs ACCT suicide and self-
harm prevention procedures, requires all staff who have contact with prisoners to be
aware of the risk factors and triggers that might increase the risk of suicide and self-
harm and take appropriate action. Any prisoner identified as at risk of suicide or
self-harm must be managed under ACCT procedures. We have considered
whether staff at HMP Hull should have recognised Mr Lukasik as at risk and started
ACCT procedures.
52. Mr Lukasik had some risk factors for suicide and self-harm. He was charged with
the murder of his father and faced a life sentence if found guilty. Mr Lukasik also
changed his plea to guilty thirteen days before his death.
53. No one who met Mr Lukasik in the weeks before his death considered that he was
at increased risk, and staff described his death as unexpected. The prison officer
who completed a welfare check the week before Mr Lukasik’s death described him
as happy to engage in conversation and noted that his only concern was related to
his shoulder injury. Both prison and healthcare staff were unaware that Mr Lukasik
had changed his plea and without this knowledge, we are satisfied that it was
reasonable for staff to have concluded that Mr Lukasik did not pose a risk of suicide
or self-harm, which warranted ACCT monitoring, in the weeks leading to his death.
Court appearance
54. PSI 07/2015, Early days in custody, says that there must be arrangements in place
to assess prisoners whose status or demeanour may have changed after a court
appearance by video link. Prison Service Order (PSO) 3050, Continuity of
Healthcare for Prisoners, says that prisons must have procedures in place so that
prisoners who have attended court by video link who request help, or who are
identified as needing help, from healthcare staff, are told how to access it and are
able to receive it in an appropriate timeframe.
55. There was no evidence that Mr Lukasik was assessed by healthcare staff following
his video link appearance on 14 May 2021 and they were unaware of this significant
change in his circumstances. There appeared to be no standard procedure at Hull
for prison staff to assess whether a prisoner’s status or demeanour had changed or
whether they might need to see healthcare staff after a video link court appearance.
There was nothing noted in Mr Lukasik’s prison or clinical record about the hearing
on 14 May or the outcome.
56. In March 2021 the Director General of HMPPS wrote to all Governors and Directors
requiring them to review local processes to ensure that, in line with the expectations
of PSI 07/2015 and PSO 3050, similar health screening arrangements and the
same processes for assessing risk of self-harm or suicide are followed after video
link appearances as on reception following a physical appearance in court.
57. In September 2021, four months after Mr Lukasik’s death, Hull introduced a
procedure to ensure that any change in a prisoner’s circumstances is either
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recorded in the change of circumstances log in reception or, for prisoners attending
court by video link, the video court log. When prisoners are returned to the wing,
any change in circumstances should be documented in the observation book and
recorded in the prisoner’s record. Night staff should carry out two additional welfare
checks on prisoners with a change of circumstances which should be recorded in
the prisoner’s record. Reception staff should provide a copy of both logs to the
night orderly officer to ensure the welfare checks are documented.
58. The procedure also states that a prison officer will be present during a video link
court appearance. Any prisoner with a change of circumstances should be taken
back through the reception process to ensure they are seen by healthcare staff and
any change in risk is identified. We consider the staff missed the opportunity to
assess Mr Lukasik’s risk of suicide and self-harm.
59. An increasing number of prisoners are being sentenced by video link, especially
since the COVID-19 pandemic. As they do not leave the prison, they are not
subject to the standard screening procedures that they would have had when
returning to the prison and passing through reception. We acknowledge the
significant difficulties Hull faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that Hull have
already reviewed and revised processes for identifying those men who may be at
increased risk. However, these new protocols need to be implemented and
understood by all those involved in the process, in particular by prison staff who
escort prisoners to video link court hearings. We recommend:
• The Governor and Head of Healthcare should ensure that following a court
appearance by video link:
• the prisoner’s NOMIS record is updated with details of the hearing and the
outcome; and
• staff should speak to the prisoner and consider whether the risk to themselves
has changed.
Key work scheme
60. Key work was formally suspended across the prison estate on 24 March 2020 due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 12 May, the Prison Service issued an Exceptional
Delivery Model (EDM) for key work which set out the priority prisoner groups for
who it was recommended that key work should continue. The priority groups
included prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm and prisoners who had been
advised to shield because they had been assessed as clinically extremely
vulnerable to COVID-19.
61. We acknowledge the significant pressures faced at Hull around the time of Mr
Lukasik’s death because of reduced staff numbers and the impact of the COVID-19
restrictions. We are satisfied that staff initially completed regular welfare checks
with Mr Lukasik and made reasonably detailed records of their conversations. Mr
Lukasik made friends with other Polish prisoners and he appeared settled on the
wing. However, staff did not complete a welfare check for three weeks in May 2021
and no check took place around the time when Mr Lukasik changed his plea to
guilty. At this point, Mr Lukasik was at an increased risk of suicide and self-harm.
Although we recognise that welfare checks may have happened without being
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recorded, we would have expected any meaningful contacts to have been recorded
if they took place. We recommend:
• The Governor should ensure that during a restricted regime, key work is
delivered in line with the Exceptional Delivery Model.
Emergency response
62. At night, officers have a key in a sealed pouch for use in an emergency.
PSI24/2011, which covers management and security at nights, says that staff have
a duty of care to prisoners, to themselves, and to other staff. The preservation of
life must take precedence over usual arrangements for opening cells and where
there is, or appears to be, immediate danger to life, then cells may be unlocked
without the authority of the night orderly officer and an individual member of staff
can enter the cell on their own. Staff are not expected to take action that they feel
would put themselves or others in unnecessary danger. What they observe and
any knowledge of the prisoner should be used to make a rapid dynamic risk
assessment.
63. The OSG saw Mr Lukasik in his cell at 7.30pm on 26 May. When they returned to
his cell at 4.52am the next morning, they could not see Mr Lukasik and returned to
the wing office to check if the cell occupancy details were correct.
64. CCTV shows there was a delay of fourteen minutes before the OSG returned to Mr
Lukasik’s cell and found him hanging. We do not criticise the OSG for not entering
Mr Lukasik’s cell immediately and alone when they were unable to get a response
from him. However, we consider that they should have acted with more urgency to
summon assistance by using their radio when they could not see him in his cell,
rather than returning to the wing office. In these circumstances, we consider that
staff should assume the worst and act with urgency. The OSG did not call an
emergency code for a further seven minutes after they found Mr Lukasik hanging
and there was a further delay of seven minutes before the prison nurse arrived, a
total delay of 28 minutes. We cannot say that the delay affected the outcome for Mr
Lukasik. We note that the prison nurse did not start CPR because it was clear that
Mr Lukasik had been dead for some time. However, early intervention is crucial in
improving the outcome in cases of hanging. We make the following
recommendation:
• The Governor should ensure that all prison staff are made aware of and
understand their responsibilities during medical emergencies, including that:
• night staff enter cells as quickly as possible in a life-threatening situation;
and
• night staff use the appropriate medical emergency response code, by
radio where possible, to effectively communicate the nature of the
emergency.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 11
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Learning lessons
65. We consider that it is important for staff who were involved in Mr Lukasik’s care to
see the findings of, and learn lessons from, our investigation. We make the
following recommendation:
66. The Governor should ensure that this report is shared with staff and that a senior
manager discusses the Ombudsman’s findings with them.
Mental and clinical healthcare
67. The clinical reviewer concluded that Mr Lukasik’s mental and clinical healthcare
was not equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the
community.
68. They found that Mr Lukasik was appropriately assessed by the mental health team.
The mental health nurse noted that Mr Lukasik did not disclose a history of mental
health problems and she assessed his risk of suicide and self-harm. However, they
did not review the assessment completed by the Mental Health Liaison and
Diversion Services (in police custody) which concluded that Mr Lukasik had
displayed some evidence of mental illness and drug-induced psychosis which
required further assessment in prison. We recommend:
• The Head of Healthcare should ensure that mental health staff consider the
results of previous mental health assessments when completing the initial
mental health assessment.
69. The clinical reviewer was concerned that Mr Lukasik did not receive an initial clinical
follow-up for his dislocated shoulder when he arrived at Hull. Mr Lukasik’s shoulder
was not x-rayed until several weeks after he arrived at Hull when he continued to
complain that he was in pain. A GP did not review the x-ray results for a further five
weeks. We recommend:
• The Head of Healthcare should ensure that healthcare staff review the clinical
management plans of newly arrived prisoners promptly.
12 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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Case Details
Date of Death
27 May 2021
Report Published
18 July 2025
Age
31-40
Gender
Responsible Body
HMP Hull
Recommendations
6
Inquest Date
4 December 2023
Recommendation Themes
safeguarding (2) communication (1) emergency_response (1) healthcare (1) mental_health (1)