Two new members appointed to the IAPDC

Kate was the Chair of the Brook House Inquiry until January 2024, investigating mistreatment at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. Prior to this she was the Senior Advisor to the Prison Rape Elimination Act Resource Centre in the USA and has worked as an Assistant Ombudsman (Head of Suicide and Homicide Investigation Team) for the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and as a Researcher for HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. She has also previously worked as First Secretary to the Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody.

Speaking about her appointment, Kate said:

“It is an absolute privilege to be appointed as a member of IAPDC. The work of preventing deaths in all forms of custody is vital. I look forward to continuing and building upon the progress that the Panel has made.”

Andrew recently retired after 13 years as Senior Coroner for London Inner South, where he sat on over 60 inquests into deaths in detention and is now a part-time Assistant Coroner in South London. He is an Honorary Professor in Coronial Law at William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London. In 2016 he was called to give evidence to the Independent Review of Deaths in Police Custody (Angiolini Report). He is dually qualified in medicine and law, having practised as a public health consultant. He has published in various journals, recently on suicide inquests, and is author of four chapters of the standard law textbook “Jervis on Coroners”.

Speaking about his appointment, Andrew said:

“Losing a loved one whilst they are detained is a devastating life-changing event for the bereaved, but is also hugely traumatic for those who had responsibility for care. Whilst we have thorough systems of investigation of these deaths, too many deaths in similar circumstances recur. The priority must be to learn the lessons from each one, so that other lives can be saved. I look forward to contributing to the Panel to address these complex issues.”