The independent investigation conducted by Kevin Bradford into the serious assault on ‘Mr North’ at HMP Whitemoor on 6 September 2008 is published. Also published is the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) response to the investigation.
On 6 September 2008 ‘Mr North’ was found in his cell with injuries suggesting that he had been assaulted. He was taken to hospital, where he received treatment for a head injury, and returned the same day to the healthcare centre at HMP Whitemoor.
He was then taken to hospital again on 7 September 2008 after his condition deteriorated, and treated in hospital intermittently until 17 December 2008, when he was transferred to another prison. ‘Mr North’ remains in prison custody, and has a long term brain injury as a result of the incident.
The assault was referred to, and investigated by, the police, but there was insufficient evidence to charge the suspected assailants.
In order to meet the State’s investigative obligation under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Kevin Bradford, a retired senior police officer, was commissioned to conduct an independent investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the serious assault on ‘Mr North’ on 6 September 2008 and to see whether there are lessons to be learned.
The investigation report is published, along with the HMPPS response to the recommendations made by Kevin Bradford.