Deaths in Custody

Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20 working days but given the current very high number of requests being received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience any delay may cause.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : data[Essex Police request email]
Personal email: [email address]
Website: www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Zoe Mercer [mailto:[FOI #29447 email]]
Sent: 21 February 2010 08:51
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Deaths in Custody

Dear Essex Police,
I would like to know the following:

1) How many deaths in custody have occurred in the last 5 years?

2) Which station was responsible for each person who died? (Eg.
Bromley: X deaths. Brixton: Y deaths. Etc.)

3) How many members of the public are served by the police stations
where deaths occurred?

Many thanks and I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Zoe Mercer

Yours faithfully,

Zoe Mercer

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Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above
reference. Having completed my enquiries I am able to respond as follows:

I would like to know the following:

1) How many deaths in custody have occurred in the last 5 years?

The figures by force area are published by the IPCC by financial year and
can be found by following this link:
[1]http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/index/resources/r...
As you will see the definition used is:
Deaths in or following police custody includes deaths of people who have
been arrested or otherwise detained by the police. It includes deaths
which occur while a person is being arrested or taken into detention. The
death may have taken place on police, private or medical premises, in a
public place or in a police or other vehicle.

This would include the following:
o Deaths which occur during or following police custody where injuries
which contributed to the death were sustained during the period of
detention.

o Deaths which occur in or on the way to hospital (or other medical
premises) following or during transfer from police custody.

o Deaths which occur as a result of injuries or other medical problems
which are identified or develop while a person is in custody.

o Deaths which occur while a person is in police custody having been
detained under Section 136 of the
Mental Health Act 1983 or other legislation.
This would not include the following:
o Deaths (including suicides) which occur after a person has been released
from police custody, except those that meet the criteria outlined above.

o Deaths of individuals who have been transferred to the care of another
agency and subsequently die while in their care.

and figures are provided on that basis rather than your words of "deaths
in custody".

2) Which station was responsible for each person who died? (Eg. Bromley:
X deaths. Brixton: Y deaths. Etc.)

As you will see from the above the definition used is wider than "deaths
in custody" but is "deaths in or following police custody" and the phrase
you use of "Which station was responsible for each person who died?" does
not apply as neither the station or the persons within it were necessarily
"responsible" for each death. The death may not have taken place in a
police station or in police custody.

Given the above the following is a breakdown of those entries shown on the
IPCC reports. The deaths are recorded as "deaths in or following police
custody" but all died at or on the way to hospital and not in a cell.

2004/2005 nil
2005/2006 3 Southend, Clacton and
Brentwood
2006/2007 1 Taken to hospital after arrest,
not taken into custody.
2007/2008 nil
2008/2009 nil

3) How many members of the public are served by the police stations where
deaths occurred?

As mentioned earlier the deaths did not occur in police stations.
With regard to population figures and for the purpose of section 17 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), this part of my response serves as
a formal notification of refusal of your request on the basis that the
exemption given at section 21 of the FOIA applies (Information accessible
by other means)

[2]http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWe...

I hope the information provided is of use.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : data[Essex Police request email]
Personal email: s[3][email address]
Website: [4]www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
original request and should be addressed to the Senior Information Officer
at the above address.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF

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