§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for those who have died in police custody in Scotland in the last two years (i) the location of their death, (ii) the reasons for the deaths ascertained so far, and (iii) what action was taken in respect of the police officer involved; and if he will make a statement. [4576]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation on the location of and reason for death in respect of persons who have died in police custody or otherwise with the 591W police in Scotland since November 1994 is set out in the table. All such deaths are thoroughly investigated by an appointed senior police officer and reported to the procurator fiscal, who decides whether any criminal proceedings are warranted. In all cases where a person dies in legal custody, the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 requires a fatal accident inquiry to be held, in which all the circumstances surrounding the death are subject to examination.
Location of death Reason for death Kilmarnock police station Acute fatty infiltration of liver. Toxic effects of alcohol. Southern general hospital, Glasgow Sub-dural haemorrhage. Southern general hospital, Glasgow Head injury. Levenmouth police station, Methil Head injuries. Probable alcohol-related fall. Gorbals police station, Glasgow Hanging. Kilbirnie police station, Glasgow Head injury with brain damage. Fractured skull. Motherwell police station Acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis. Chronic alcoholism. Edinburgh royal infirmary Fatal dose of dihydrocodeine in liver. Toxic dose of dihydrocodeine in blood. Oban police station Acute pulmonary congestion and oedema. Dalkeith police station Acute alcohol intoxication, hypertensive heart disease and coronary atheroma. Motherwell police station Pulmonary oedema and congestion. Western general hospital, Edinburgh Blunt force head injury; haemophilia. Kirkcaldy police station Hanging. Hawick police station Inhalation of gastric contents; acute intoxication with alcohol. Aberdeen royal infirmary Heart attack. Southern general hospital, Glasgow Head injury/fall. The Victoria infirmary, Glasgow Hanging. Aberdeen royal infirmary Myocardial infarction (heart attack). Southern general hospital, Glasgow Head injury. Inverclyde royal hospital, Greenock Head injury/fall. Glasgow royal infirmary Pulmonary oedema and congestion. Edinburgh royal infirmary Undetermined, pending further laboratory investigations. Foresterhill hospital, Aberdeen Ischaemic heart disease. Glasgow royal infirmary Not yet known.