§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all deaths in police custody since 1979, giving the date and cause of death, the age and sex in each case, the location of police custody at the time of death and the inquest verdict.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggInformation on deaths in police custody for the years 1980–87 is contained in the annual reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary and of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the years in question. Copies of these may be found in the Library. It was not the practice to compile figures relating to deaths in police custody before 1980 and information for 1979 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information about deaths which occurred last year will appear in the 1988 reports, and these will be published shortly.