Statistics & Reform

Larry Fedja

INQUEST supports legal challenge to the guidance on Inquest funding

INQUEST UPDATE: Verdict expected soon!source: INQUEST
published: 5 February 2015

At a hearing for permission for Judicial Review on 2nd October 2014, Joanna Letts was granted permission to pursue her challenge that the Lord Chancellor’s Guidance on Inquest funding is flawed and unlawful. 

The full hearing [took place] on 5th February.  The Equality and Human Rights Commission has been granted permission to Intervene in the case due to its importance.

The Facts

Joanna Letts, is a single mother, with four young children and she lives in Lambeth. Her brother, Christopher Letts was aged 29 when on 19.8.2013 he threw himself under a train at Tooting Bec station whilst mentally unwell.

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Tippa Naphtali

Theresa May: police use tasers too often against mentally ill

Drawing Taser Gunsource: The Guardian
published: 23 October 2014

The home secretary, Theresa May, is to order an in-depth review of the use of force by police amid particular concerns that physical restraint and Tasers are being used too often against mentally distressed people.

May will on Thursday cite evidence from the London Assembly that up to 30% of people Tasered by the Metropolitan police are emotionally or mentally distressed, and 50% of those Tasered are from black or other minority ethnic backgrounds.

The home secretary is to tell police forces to record far more information about mentally ill people they detain and about their use of physical restraint and of Taser electroshock stun guns.

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4WardEverUK

Custody deaths in England & Wales 2012

Deaths in police custody 2002-2012all credits: INQUEST 
published: March 2013

As of 31 December 2012 there were 186 deaths is prison, of which 60 were self-inflicted.

The year was defined by three spikes in self-inflicted deaths: January saw the highest number, followed by July. And despite a decline through the Autumn, the number of self-inflicted deaths rose sharply in December. This is a common pattern as the festive period can be a challenging and difficult time for vulnerable people. January was notable too for the self-inflicted deaths of two children in prison custody – Jake Hardy, 17, and 15 year old Alex Kelly.

There were a total of 23 deaths in police custody or as the result of a road incident or shooting. Nine were custody deaths, one was a police shooting and 13 were caused by police pursuit or a road traffic incident.

Source: INQUEST casework and monitoring.

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