§ Mr. Edward Gardnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the figures relating to deaths in police custody during 1980.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe information is given in the following table: 161W
DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY BY POLICE FORCE AREA, RESULT OF INQUEST AND PLACE WHERE DEATH OCCURRED England and Wales 1980 Number of persons Police Force Area Total Inquest Verdict Place where death occurred Natural Causes Misadventure Accidental death Suicide Adjourned Not held* At police station In hospital or on way to hospital Else-where† Cheshire 2 1 — — — — 1 — 1 1 Cumbria 1 — — — — — 1 — 1 — Dorset 2 — 2 — — — — 2 — — Durham 2 — — — 1 — 1 — 2 — Essex 1 — — — — 1 — 1 — — Greater Manchester 5 — 5 — — — — 1 4 — Hampshire 1 — 1 — — — — 1 — — Kent 3 — 1 1 — 1 — 1 2 — Lancashire 2 2 — — — — — 1 — 1 Leicestershire 1 1 — — — — — — 1 — London, City of 2 2 — — — — — — 2 — Merseyside 6 3 — 2 1 — — 1 5 — Metropolitan Police District 20 5 6 5 — 2 2 7§ 12 1 Norfolk 1 — 1 — — — — 1 — — Northumbria 2 1 — — 1 — — 2 — — Nottinghamshire 2 — — — 2 — — 1 1 — Staffordshire 1 — — 1 — — — — 1 — Thames Valley 2 — 2 — — — — 1 1 — West Midlands 4 1 2 — 1 — — 3 1 — West Yorkshire 1 1 — — — — — — 1 — North Wales 1 — 1 — — — — — — 1 South Wales 1 — 1 — — — — 1 — — England and Wales 63 17 22 9 6 4‡ 5 24 35 4 * The primary causes of death given in these cases were respectively myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, lobar pneumonia, cardiac arrest and pneumonia. † These deaths occurred at the scene of the arrest. ‡ Includes two cases where the inquest has not been resumed, a member of the public having been charged with manslaughter. § Includes one case where the person would have been held in a prison department establishment had there been no industrial action by prison officers.