Research and Policy Briefings and submissions Justice and Human Rights HMICFRS Policing inspection programme and framework commencing April 2022 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services opened a consultation on their proposed programme of policing inspections commencing April 2022. INQUEST submission (March 2022) DOWNLOAD Human Rights Act Reform A Government consultation on proposals to reform the Human Rights Act 1998. INQUEST and Inquest Lawyers Group response (March 2022) DOWNLOAD Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences A Justice Select Committee inquiry examine policy issues surrounding IPP sentences, with the aim of identifying possible legislative and policy solutions. INQUEST submission (November 2021) DOWNLOAD Prisons Strategy White Paper A consultation on the Government's 10 year vision for the prison system. INQUEST submission (February 2022) DOWNLOAD Mental Health in Prison A Justice Select Committee inquiry which seeks to understand the current scale of mental health need in prisons, and to identify what support exists and whether there are any gaps in provision. INQUEST submission (June 2021) DOWNLOAD Women in Prison A Justice Select Committee inquiry which seeks to understand the progress made over the past 10 years to address female offending and reduce the number of women in custody. INQUEST submission (June 2021) DOWNLOAD Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: Ethnic disparities and inequality in the UK review The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities were asked by the government to review ethnic disparities and inequality in the UK, focusing on the following four areas: Education Employment and enterprise Health Crime and policing INQUEST submission (March 2021) DOWNLOAD OHCHR Report on systemic racism against people of African descent by law enforcement agencies Evidence to support the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies. This report will inform the UN Human Rights Council, at their upcoming forty-seventh session in June 2021. Read our news piece on this for more information. INQUEST Evidence (December 2020) DOWNLOAD Police conduct and complaints inquiry A Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry examining the role and remit of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to the police conduct and discipline system. The inquiry is also considering what reforms are required to secure public confidence in the police conduct and disciplinary system. INQUEST written evidence (January 2021) DOWNLOAD INQUEST oral evidence (January 2021) DOWNLOAD INQUEST supplementary written evidence (March 2021) DOWNLOAD Independent Human Rights Act Review A UK Government inquiry purporting to consider how the Human Rights Act is working in practice and whether any change is needed. INQUEST submission (March 2021) DOWNLOAD Strengthening the Independent Scrutiny Bodies through Legislation A Ministry of Justice consultation seeking views on a number of options to strengthen the Arm’s Length Bodies’ ability to scrutinise and improve accountability within the Criminal Justice System. INQUEST submission (September 2020) DOWNLOAD Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry on The government’s response to COVID-19: human rights implications The Committee is examining the Government’s actions in response to COVID-19 to ensure that its approach is compliant with human rights – not least the right to life (Article 2 ECHR). INQUEST submission (July 2020) DOWNLOAD INQUEST briefing on COVID-19: Protecting people in places of custody and detention In this briefing we outline immediate areas of concern in relation to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and our areas of expertise. INQUEST Briefing (March 2020) DOWNLOAD Prison governance inquiry The Justice Select Committee examines prison governance, taking a broad look at how the Ministry of Justice and HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) should provide effective oversight of prisons. INQUEST Submission (May 2019) DOWNLOAD UN Committee Against Torture periodic review The periodic review looks at the UK’s compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Our evidence is a detailed dossier on deaths and ill treatment in prisons, mental health settings and police custody in the past six years. INQUEST Submission (March 2019) DOWNLOAD Immigration detention inquiry Joint Committee on Human Rights examines whether current legal and policy frameworks are sufficient in preventing people being detained wrongfully and whether current practices in the detention system protect human rights. INQUEST Submission (September 2018) DOWNLOAD Inquiry into the sentencing of women The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is conducting an inquiry into the sentencing of women. The aims of this inquiry are two-fold: to reveal the issues around sentencing that inhibit the use of non-custodial solutions and to encourage and enable the magistracy to avoid sending women to prison. INQUEST Submission (May 2018) DOWNLOAD Prison healthcare inquiry The Health and Social Care committee considers the effectiveness of prisons and prison healthcare services in meeting the physical and mental health, and social care, needs of prisoners. INQUEST Submission (May 2018) DOWNLOAD INQUEST Oral Evidence by Rebecca Roberts, Head of Policy (July 2018) DOWNLOAD INQUEST report of the Family Listening Day for the Independent Police Complaints Commission The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), now the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), asked INQUEST to facilitate a family listening day to gather evidence to inform its on-going process of gathering feedback from those who have been involved in an investigation following a death, in March 2017. INQUEST Family Listening Day Report (March 2018) DOWNLOAD Prison Provision in Wales The Welsh Affairs Committee considers; provision for women prisoners and young offenders in Wales; Welsh language provision in prison; Cross border issues, including the placement of prisoners from Wales in English prisons; and the potential for new prisons in Wales. INQUEST Submission (March 2018) DOWNLOAD Transforming Rehabilitation Justice Select Committee inquiry examines how current Government measures are effectively addressing the challenges facing the probation services and what more needs to be done in the short-term to improve the probation system. INQUEST Submission (February 2018) DOWNLOAD Prison Population 2022: planning for the future inquiry 2018 The Justice Select Committee considers: Who is in prison and who is expected to be imprisoned over the next 5 years? The reasons prisoners are there, why they stay there and why they return. Whether the Ministry of Justice and prison services currently have a credible approach to accommodating the changes anticipated. INQUEST Submission (January 2018) DOWNLOAD Justice Select Committee on HM Inspectorate of Prisons report on HMP Liverpool INQUEST Briefing (January 2018) DOWNLOAD Independent Review into Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody 2017 Chaired by Dame Elish Angiolini, this is the first and only review of policing practices and related processes following police related deaths. It makes over 100 evidence based recommendations such as non-means tested legal representation for bereaved families and stronger systems of accountability for the police. INQUEST Briefing October 2017 DOWNLOAD INQUEST Family Listening Day Report October 2017 DOWNLOAD INQUEST Response to Consultation (Summary)June 2016 DOWNLOAD Bishop's Review of Hillsborough Families' Experience 2017 Chaired by Right Reverend James Jones, this report provides an insight into what the bereaved Hillsborough families experienced over 28 years. It makes a number of strong recommendations on the response of public bodies to state related deaths, and the involvement of bereaved families in these processes. INQUEST Submission April 2017 DOWNLOAD INQUEST Family Listening Day Report April 2017 DOWNLOAD Mental Health and Deaths in Prison Inquiry 2017 This Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry evaluates the impact of prison on vulnerable offenders with mental health conditions and/or learning difficulties and discusses how to ensure that lessons about preventing deaths in custody are effectively practiced. INQUEST Written Evidence March 2017 DOWNLOAD INQUEST Oral Evidence by Director Deborah Coles March 2017 DOWNLOAD Oral Evidence by Families of Dean Saunders and Diane Waplington, Supported by INQUEST March 2017 DOWNLOAD Expectations for Police Custody 2016 HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report which sets out the framework and criteria used by the inspectorates to assess police custody arrangements and the outcomes for those detained. INQUEST Response to the Consultation December 2016 DOWNLOAD Young Adult Offenders Inquiry 2015 Justice Select Committee review into the treatment of young adults in the criminal justice system covering the Ministry of Justice, National Offender Management Service, Youth Justice Board, youth offending teams, providers of prison and probation services, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Sentencing Council. INQUEST Submission September 2015 DOWNLOAD Lord Lamming Review into Keeping Children in Care out of Trouble 2015 Prison Reform Trust review examining the reasons for, and how best to tackle, the over representation of children in care, or with experience of care, in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. INQUEST Submission August 2015 DOWNLOAD The Harris Review: Self-Inflicted Deaths in Custody 2015 Independent review into self-inflicted deaths in custody of 18 to 24 year olds from 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2013. Chaired by Lord Toby Harris, the review examines self-inflicted deaths, whether appropriate lessons have been learned from those deaths and if not, what actions should be taken to prevent further deaths. INQUEST Submission September 2014 DOWNLOAD INQUEST Family Listening Day October 2014 DOWNLOAD Plans for Secure College Rules Consultation 2014 Ministry of Justice Review intending 'to set out the core parameters within which Secure Colleges will be required to operate to ensure that young people are detained safely and securely, and that their educational and rehabilitative needs are addressed'. INQUEST Submission November 2014 DOWNLOAD Policing and Mental Health 2014 Home Affairs Committee inquiry investigates what can be done to improve the use of police and mental healthcare resources, and reduce the number of people with mental health problems who find themselves in a police cell when they should be in a hospital. INQUEST Submission May 2014 DOWNLOAD Preventing the Deaths of Women in Prison 2014 This report by INQUEST highlights the failure of the government to ensure fundamental changes to policy and practice following the Corston review and the inability of the prison estate to learn from previous investigations and inquests. INQUEST Report January 2014 DOWNLOAD The Deaths of Children and Young People in Custody: The Need for an Independent Review 2014 This INQUEST report asks for an independent review of deaths of children and young people in custody to ensure transparent scrutiny on the issue following the continuing high number of deaths. INQUEST Report January 2014 DOWNLOAD Transforming Management of Young Adults in Custody 2013 Ministry of Justice consultation proposing that all young adults will be accommodated in mixed institutions, where resources are targeted on their risks and rehabilitation and resettlement needs. INQUEST Response December 2013 DOWNLOAD Police Procedures in Dealing with Mental Health Issues 2013 Backbench Business Committee Briefing for debate in Westminster Hall on 28 November 2013. INQUEST Briefing November 2013 DOWNLOAD Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing 2013 Chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, the aim of this commission is review the work of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) with regard to people who have died or been seriously injured following police contact or in police custody and to make recommendations to inform MPS conduct, response and actions where mental health is, or is perceived to be, a key issue. INQUEST Briefing April 2013 DOWNLOAD Casale Review An independent external review of the IPCC investigation into the death of Sean Rigg. INQUEST Briefing (February 2013) DOWNLOAD Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses 2012 This consultation, led by the Ministry of Justice, seeks responses on a set of reforms proposing to deliver 'a more intelligent and coherent service for victims of crime'. INQUEST Submission April 2012 DOWNLOAD Inquiry into Youth Justice 2012-2013 This Justice Select Committee Inquiry into the youth justice system in England and Wales examines wide-ranging issues including; the role of the youth justice system in diverting at-risk young people away from first time offending; governance of the youth justice system; and the extent to which the system is able to meet the needs of all offenders. INQUEST Submission April 2012 DOWNLOAD Justice and Security Green Paper 2012 The Justice and Security Green paper contains the Government's proposals to change the way in which "sensitive information" (which includes but is not confined to intelligence information) is treated in civil proceedings. The Joint Committee on Human Rights’ inquiry explores its compatibility with the common law rights to a fair hearing and to open justice and with the UK's international human rights obligations. INQUEST and INQUEST Lawyers Additional Evidence March 2012 DOWNLOAD INQUEST and INQUEST Lawyers Submission January 2012 DOWNLOAD INQUEST and INQUEST Lawyers Response January 2012 DOWNLOAD Briefing on the death of Jimmy Mubenga The restraint-related death of Jimmy Mubenga during deportation by a private security firm: the call for a parliamentary inquiry and scrutiny by human rights mechanisms INQUEST Briefing April 2011 DOWNLOAD Independent Police Complaints Commission Stock Take Consultation 'Building on Experiences' 2008 The report checks how well the system is delivering against the original aspirations, whether those aspirations are still appropriate in the current environment and to continue to improve the system based on evidence and learning from the last four years operation. INQUEST Response October 2008 DOWNLOAD Review of Restraint in Secure Training Centres Inquiry 2007 This Independent review is chaired by Peter Smallridge and Andrew Williamson for the Ministry of Justice & Department for Children, Schools and Families. It examines and makes recommendations on the use of restraint in juvenile settings. INQUEST Submission December 2007 DOWNLOAD The Use of Restraint in Secure Training Centres Inquiry 2007 The Joint Committee on Human Right considers the compatibility of The Secure Training Centre (Amendment) Rules with the UK’s human rights obligations. The rules widened the scope for restraint against detained children and young people in Secure Training Centres and came into force in July 2007 without parliamentary debate. INQUEST Evidence October 2007 DOWNLOAD Statutory Instrument (SI 2007, No 1709) Use of Force within Secure Training Centres 2007 Ministry of Justice proposal to broaden the circumstances in which children can be forcibly restrained by amending the rules governing the use of force within Secure Training Centres (STCs). INQUEST Briefing June 2007 DOWNLOAD Death in police custody, report on the death of Christopher Alder INQUEST Briefing 2004 DOWNLOAD Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 1998 This inquiry focuses on the deaths of black and minority ethnic people in custody. INQUEST's submission examines the main issues around Stephen's death and looks at the investigative process, policy development and racially-motivated crimes. INQUEST Submission 1998 DOWNLOAD Prison Inspectorate's Thematic Review on Suicides and Self-Harm in Prison 1999 This thematic review, by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales, explores how to best assist and support; prisoners who may be at risk of self-harm and suicide; the next of kin of prisoners who appear to have committed suicide; and staff and prisoners affected by the above. INQUEST Submission 1998 DOWNLOAD The restraint related death of David ‘Rocky’ Bennett INQUEST Briefing 2004 DOWNLOAD