28 July 2021

Before HM Assistant Coroner Oliver Longstaff
County Durham and Darlington Coroners
Durham Miners Hall, Redhills, Durham, DH1 4BE
Opens 10am on Monday 2 August 2021, expected to last 5 days

Jake Anderson was 24 years old when he died in a cell at Peterlee Police Station, Durham on 25 June 2019. The inquest into his death opens on Monday 2 August.

Jake had been taken into police custody by Durham Constabulary on the morning of 24 June 2019. Jake had been presenting as unwell and was receiving treatment for his mental health in the community under Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust (TEWV).

At the time of his death, Jake had been in custody for 12 hours. He was found unresponsive by custody staff at around midnight and was pronounced dead shortly after in the early hours of 25 June.

Jake is described by his mother as a kind, caring and loving child and young lad who had his whole life ahead of him. Jake loved to make people laugh. He had a keen interest in sports and ambitions of passing his driving test and wanted to take up a career in HGV lorry driving. He was a much loved son, brother, grandson and uncle.

The family hope the inquest will consider:

• The monitoring, support and treatment by TEWV of Jake’s mental wellbeing and substance and alcohol use.
• The circumstances surrounding the decision to arrest and detain Jake.
• The assessment of vulnerable persons while in police custody.
• The monitoring and observation procedures in police custody.
• Communication between the health care services and police regarding Jake’s mental health and known risks and vulnerability.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, interview requests and to note your interest, please contact INQUEST on 020 7263 1111 or [email protected]

Jake’s family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Alistair Smith of Watson Woodhouse Solicitors and Clare Ashcroft of Garden Court North Chambers. The family are supported by INQUEST Senior Casework, Jodie Anderson.

Other Interested persons represented are Durham Constabulary and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust (TEWV).