HC Deb 19 July 2002 vol 389 cc677-8W
Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) deaths in custody have occurred, (b) public inquiries into deaths in custody have taken place and (c) convictions of police officers secured as a result of cases arising out of deaths in custody, in each year since 1990; [69838]

(2) what procedures the police are required to follow when investigating a death in custody; and if he will place a copy of his guidance in the Library; [69839]

(3) how many independent inquiries into deaths in custody his Department has participated in each year since 1990. [70092]

Mr. Denham

The Home Office publishes annual statistics of deaths in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police. The figures for each year since 1990 are shown in the table. Statistics for 2001–02 are currently being finalised.

Year Total number of deaths
1990 61
1991 60
1992 48
1993 31
1994 39
1995–96* 50
1996–97 57
1997–98 69
1998–99 67
1999–2000 70
2000–01 53

There have been no public inquiries into deaths in police custody in any year since 1990. Statistics on the number of police officers who have been convicted as a result of cases arising out of deaths in police custody are not collected centrally.

The Home Office have not participated in any independent inquiries into deaths in police custody in any year since 1990.

The procedures relating to the investigation of a death in police custody are contained in sections 70–76 of the Police Act 1996. Where such a death occurs the police are required to refer the investigation to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) for supervision. It is the responsibility of the PCA supervising Member to approve the appointment of the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), either from the force where the death occurred or from another force, and to agree the terms of reference for the SIO covering the parameters of the investigation. The PCA recently published their supervision manual which sets out the Authority's approach to supervision and the standards its supervising members will apply.