Deaths in Custody

The Government's first reply to the report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights on Deaths in Custody, accepted much of the Committee's analysis and pointed to efforts underway to address the problem, however it did not propose any substantial changes to policy or practice. This second reply addresses the most significant recommendation of the Report, that a cross-departmental expert task force should be set up to look at deaths in all forms of state custody. The Government describes a number of institutions and points to the establishment of the multi-agency group chaired by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. However the Committee has concerns that the need for an active, interventionist body has not been met. They will therefore keep the matter under active review in the current Parliament.