§ Mr. Meacherasked the Attorney-General in how many cases over the last 10 years where persons have died whilst in police custody complaints have been
Year of death Police force Cause of death Where died Allegation 1971* Metropolitan — — Assault causing death 1972* Hertfordshire — — Manslaughter 1972* Metropolitan — — Assault causing death 1973 Teesside Verdict—suicide (drugs) Hospital Assault causing death 1974 Metropolitan Natural medical causes Hospital Assault causing death 1974 Merseyside Verdict—death by misadventure Hospital Assault causing death 1974 Metropolitan Verdict—natural causes Hospital Assault causing death 1974 Lancashire Verdict—suicide (stabbing) Home Police maltreatment 1975 Metropolitan Verdict—death by misadventure Hospital Assault causing death 1976 Durham Verdict—death by misadventure Hospital Assault causing death 1976 Northumbria Verdict—natural causes Home Assault causing death 1976 Metropolitan Verdict—suicide (shot) Street Assault (irrelevant to death) 1977 West Midlands Verdict—natural causes Custody Assault causing death 1977 Cleveland Verdict—suicide (hanging) Custody Police negligence 1977 Metropolitan Acute barbiturate poisoning Custody Police negligence 1978 Sussex Verdict—accidental death Hospital Assault causing death 1978 Sussex Verdict—natural causes Custody Assault causing death 1978 West Midlands Verdict—natural causes Hospital Assault causing death 1978 Merseyside Verdict—natural causes Home Police maltreatment 1978 Cumbria Verdict—lawful killing Hospital Shot by marksman 1978 Metropolitan Verdict—accidental death Public park. Assault causing death 1977 West Yorkshire Verdict—death by misadventure Hospital Assault causing death 1978 Metropolitan Verdict—justifiable homicide Street Shot in robbery 1979 Northumbria Verdict—natural causes Hospital .Assault causing death 1979 Metropolitan Inquest adjourned Street Assault causing death 1979 Merseyside Inquest adjourned Custody Assault causing death * The files in respect of these cases have been routinely destroyed and full details of them are not available. The year given is that in which the matter was referred to the DPP; the death may have occurred in the previous year.