HC Deb 31 January 1996 vol 270 cc763-4W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many deaths in police custody in each year an inquest verdict has been brought in of(a) natural causes, (b) misadventure or accident, (c) drug addiction or alcoholism, (d) suicide, (e) unlawful killing and (f) open verdict; and in how many cases no inquest was held. [11931]

Mr. Maclean

The available information is published in the annual Home Office statistical bulletin entitled "Police Complaints and Discipline, England and Wales" and, for the Metropolitan police district, in the annual report of the Commissioner of Police. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have died in police custody(a) in total and (b) by police force area in each year since 1990. [11487]

Mr. Maclean

This information is published in the annual Home Office statistical bulletin entitled "Police Complaints and Discipline, England and Wales" and, for the Metropolitan police district, in the annual report of the Commissioner of Police. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic origin of each prisoner who has died in police custody since 1990. [11488]

Mr. Maclean

This information is not at present collected centrally but the present procedures are being amended as from April 1996. It will thereafter be published annually in the Home Office statistical bulletin entitled "Police Complaints and Discipline, England and Wales" and, for the Metropolitan police district, in the annual report of the Commissioner of Police.