'I urge the government and all those involved in the care of people in detention to heed the findings of this report.” - Lynn Emslie, IAPDC Chair

Our latest report finds significantly higher rates of deaths in custody compared with the community.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/4/23…

Our letter to the Ministry of Justice Prisons Minister sets out the joined-up and strategic approach that is needed to keep offenders in prison and the community safe and reduce 'the troublingly high number and rate of deaths' against the backdrop of the ongoing capacity crisis.

Our latest statistical analysis shows that people in custody are at an elevated risk of death, with people detained under the MHA having the highest rate of deaths across all custody settings.

Better data is needed to understand and prevent these deaths.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/4/23…

We have written to Minister @MariaCaulfield to set out our key concerns around patient & prisoner safety, including:

➡️Improved data & independent scrutiny of deaths under the MHA
➡️Timely mental health transfer of prisoners
➡️Better access to community mental health services

'The prison estate has reached a critical point in safety as it continues to grapple with ongoing capacity and staffing challenges.'

Stats published today show a 20% increase in the rate of self-harm across the prison estate. Read our statement below.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/4/25…

Another official report raising the alarm about patient safety in mental health hospitals.
Government action is needed - urgently.

Read more about the research carried out by Dr
Amir Sariaslan and Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody member Prof
@SeenaFazel in the The Independent:

pulse.ly/x4umqjkmtd

'The availability, accessibility & transparency of high-quality data is integral to our understanding of these deaths to help inform effective interventions.' - @SeenaFazel

Our analysis of custody deaths highlights concerning gaps in data on MHA deaths.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/4/23…

No one should die preventable deaths in detention, yet far too many die every year.

The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody have published a new report bringing together data on deaths across detention settings, plus analysis comparing to rates of deaths in the community.

📕REPORT: iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/4/23…

And link to main report: static1.squarespace.com/static/5c5ae65…

'...pressures in the system, including overcrowding and staff shortages, have meant that too many of you are not getting access to these basics.'

Read Lynn Emslie's latest article for @InsideTime focusing on prisoner safety amidst capacity pressures.

insidetime.org/information/wh…

.Care Quality Commission data show 264 detained MHA patients died in 2022/23.

Robust data & independent scrutiny are vital to preventing deaths. We welcome DHSC's commitment to identify improvements to data in its response to the rapid review of patient safety.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/3/22…

We have set a purposeful agenda, aiming for impact and effectiveness in preventing deaths in all forms of state detention.

Today we have published our workplan which sets out our priorities for 2024/25

Our projects span all areas of custody with the central aim of ensuring the prevention of deaths remains a priority for those responsible for the care of people in custody.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/3/13…

We recently hosted a roundtable with National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) on preventing suicide following police custody.

Cross-sector stakeholders discussed current gaps in support and the partnership work that is needed to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Read more below. iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/3/6/…

Very pleased to Chair a joint IAPDC/NPCC event exploring options to reduce the risk of self inflicted deaths post release from police custody. Great innovation and energy to progress this agenda from all stakeholders. Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC)

The Ministry of Justice is currently advertising a vacancy for a Member of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody. Details can be found here: …for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/7982 HM Government Public Appointments Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody

Urgent action is needed to address the long delays faced by prisoners awaiting mental health transfers and end the wholly inappropriate use of prisons as a ‘place of safety’.

These settings are not therapeutic environments and put the lives of acutely unwell individuals at risk.

'... progress remains too slow, and more ambition is needed to address the tragically high number of [prison] suicides each year.'

Read Lynn Emslie latest article for InsideTime on the need to learn lessons from ligature reduction in other settings.

insidetime.org/information/pr…

We welcome NCEPOD's report published today which calls for improvements in prison healthcare - vital to reducing avoidable deaths in custody.

Read our response below.

iapondeathsincustody.org/news/2024/1/26…