Professor Seena Fazel appointed to IAPDC

The Secretary of State for Justice has appointed Professor Seena Fazel as a member of the IAPDC for three years from October 2023.

Professor Fazel is a serving member of the IAPDC, having begun his first term in 2018 and his second term in 2021. He is a professor of forensic psychiatry and director of the Centre for Suicide Research at Oxford University. He has also been an honorary consultant forensic psychiatrist for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Lynn Emslie, IAPDC Chair, has warmly welcomed the news of Professor Fazel’s reappointment. Speaking about his appointment, Professor Fazel said:

I am very pleased to be reappointed to the IAPDC and build on the panel’s unique work on preventing deaths in custody. Robust evidence about what works to prevent deaths must be central to all policy and operational decisions across the custodial landscape, which includes promoting better quality research and translating its findings into practice.

I look forward to continuing to work with IAPDC colleagues to provide independent and evidence-based advice and recommendations to ensure Ministers and senior officials meet their obligations to safeguard the lives of individuals under the state’s care.