Area of detention: Police custody

Produced collaboratively by the College of Policing, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), and the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC) – this guidance sets out a preventative, evidence-informed approach to the risk of suicide in and following police custody. It draws on best practice and the expertise of a broad range of stakeholders across policing, justice, health, and the third sector who participated in a series of working groups to provide a comprehensive framework for identifying and responding to suicide risk throughout custody – from arrest to release. It highlights the importance of early intervention, person-centred care, continuity of care and coordinated multi-agency support.

This work programme outlines key IAPDC work to be delivered between 2025 and 2026.

Lynn Emslie, Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody, mid-term report - February 2023-August 2024