Inquest finds prison failings contributed to death in custody

Friday 10 October 2014

A jury has criticised the acts and omissions of a G4S prison in a damning narrative verdict. Ifeanyi Odogwu, who represented the family, also secured a Preventing Future Death report.

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Andrew died as a result of self-harm following a hanging incident on 29 December 2012 at HMP Altcourse. The inquest heard evidence that Andrew was a vulnerable prisoner: it was his first time in custody, he was disabled and he suffered from severe mental health issues. Andrew was also a victim of bullying and intimidation during his time in prison.

The jury concluded that there was a real and immediate risk to Andrew’s life on 29 December 2012, due to both previous self-harm incidents and Andrew informing prison staff that he intended to self-harm. Their judgmental findings stated that the prison failed to safeguard Andrew by their decision to return his shoelaces to him despite repeated previous attempts of self-harm, the lack of handover or continuity of care in his ACCT case review, and the decision to place Andrew in a single cell contrary to the prison policy and medical opinion.

Following the conclusion of the inquest, the coroner has issued a Preventing Future Deaths report highlighting the concerns of inadequate resources and training in healthcare, and the implementation of suicide and self-harm prevention procedures.

Ifeanyi was instructed by Broudie Jackson Canter.

Ifeanyi Odogwu is a member of the Garden Court Inquests Team.

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