Other Custody Deaths

Tippa Naphtali

Safer custody: camera-based vital sign alarms will save lives

Police Cellsource: Real Wire
published: 21 June 2016

Oxehealth, the first company in the world to bring a medical-grade, contact-free vital sign monitoring system using digital video cameras to market, will be launching its technology at IFSEC International this week.

Publically exhibited in a cell setting for the first time outside of Oxford, and in collaboration with globally renowned partners Hanwha Techwin, Oxecam software promises to transform the safety and care of detainees and patients in secure room environments.

Cameras equipped with the Oxecam software can measure vital signs including heart and breathing rate anywhere in a room and totally contact free, using normal digital video camera sensors.

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Tippa Naphtali

‘Impartiality’ concern raised over death in custody inquiry

Olaseni Lewis
Olaseni Lewis

source: The Voice Online
published: 6 May 2016

The senior coroner in the investigation into the death Olaseni Lewis has flagged up concerns over the impartiality of staff at the mental health facility where the 23-year-old was restrained by police officers.

Selena Lynch, senior coroner for south London, said staff at Bethlem Royal Hospital could feel unable to speak openly about the death of Lewis because their legal representation is being paid for by their employer, reported the Croydon Advertiser.

IT graduate, Lewis, was restrained face down for a total of 40 minutes, in two prolonged periods, by up to 11 officers in 2010 at the Kent facility run by South London and Maudsley (SLaM).

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4WardEverUK

Seven deaths in West Midlands police custody in the last 12 years

Police Cell Victimssource: Express & Star
published: 20 February 2016

Seven people have died while in police custody across the West Midlands in the last 12 years, figures have revealed. They include five men and two women arrested on suspicion of crimes ranging from driving while unfit through drink or drugs to affray.

Among them was mother-of-four Sharmila Ullah who was being held at Bloxwich Police Station in July 2014 after being arrested for shoplifting.

A coroner concluded there had been some ‘individual failings’ in regards to observations while she was in custody but he was not satisfied they had contributed to her death.

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