IAPDC responds to Government review of investigations following police use of force

While the review covers a wide range of areas, the IAPDC believes it offers an opportunity for the Government to reaffirm its commitment to a “zero-tolerance” approach to deaths in police custody.

Worryingly, the past year saw a significant increase in the number of deaths in or following police custody, increasing from 11 in 2021/22 to 23 in 2022/23 – with almost half involving the use of force. This makes effective and robust investigations to learn lessons, rectify dangerous practices, and maintain public confidence more important than ever.

Progress has sometimes been slow in learning and embedding lessons from previous deaths. Death following use of force against individuals experiencing a mental health crisis remains a real concern, as does evidence of disproportionate use of force against minority ethnic groups. The IAPDC’s submission underscores the link between investigatory frameworks and preventing custody deaths and seeks to ensure that the Home Office builds on its existing commitments to implementing the recommendations of previous watershed reviews, such as Dame Angiolini DBE KC’s seminal review into Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody.

Responding to the Home Office review, Raj Desai, IAPDC member and human rights barrister, said:

“We have seen a troubling increase in police custody deaths over the past year, with almost half these deaths preceded by use of force. When police action leads to loss of life, it can shatter public confidence in the police’s ability to discharge its core duties to protect life and keep the public safe, especially in communities where confidence is already weak. That only makes the already challenging job that police officers do even harder. This review offers an opportunity for the Home Office to build on its existing commitment to a “zero tolerance” approach to deaths in custody and reaffirm the critical importance of thorough, fearless, and expeditious independent post-death investigations that command the confidence of all.“

The Home Office’s review aims to report findings to the Home Secretary by the end of 2023. Read the IAPDC’s submission.