You are in > manchester.com  > News > IPCC: 1,000 people almost die in police custody every year

Politics

IPCC: 1,000 people almost die in police custody every year

12/03/2008

Around 1,000 people almost die in police custody every year, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has claimed.

In a new report published today the IPCC has said that there are around 1,000 "near misses" in police custody in England and Wales ever year and of these 400 would have died without the immediate intervention of staff.

"Many near misses will be unavoidable. In a number of the cases featured in our report a death was averted due to the quick responses from custody staff and forensic physicians," IPCC chair Nick Hardwick said.

"However, we believe that more can be done to reduce the likelihood of deaths and near misses."

The IPCC called for better risk assessments for individual detainees when they enter into custody and for appropriate training for staff dealing with those under police detention.

"The way to reduce deaths and near misses in police custody is through good risk assessment and better healthcare provision. Forces need to ensure that their custody staff are adequately trained to identify the healthcare issues they are likely to face on a day to day basis," co-author Jason Payne-James said.

The IPCC report looked at incidents that resulted in or could have resulted in the serious illness or self-harm of people in Metropolitan police service (MPS) custody between May 2005 and April 2006.

It found that 121 "near misses" were reported by the MPS in that time.

In 50 of the 121 incidents, death was "very likely to fairly likely" if staff had not reacted to the situation.

Twelve detainees were resuscitated on site and 59 were taken to hospital for treatment, with 27 remaining for treatment or observation.

Six people died in MPS custody during the period of study, with 28 deaths nationwide.

"It would be unwise to assume that these issues relate only to the MPS. It is likely that these are general issues for those managing and working in custody suites across England and Wales," Mr Hardwick said.

The IPCC also made a number of recommendations to police services including, providing adequate records of treatments for detainees and highlighting the importance of checking police cells.