Home Office
Central Government
Action Taken
The Home Office is researching the availability of the substance in question and supports the DHSC in delivering the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. Border Force has issued guidance to officers about control actions regarding goods at the border that may assist with suicide. (AI summary)
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Dear Ms Loxton,
ANDREW NATHAN PAUL KENWARD REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
Thank you for the Regulation 28 report, dated 9 July 2025, sent to the Home Secretary following the inquest into the death of Andrew Kenward, who tragically died on 24th October 2022. I am responding on behalf of the Home Secretary, as the Security Minister.
Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Mr Kenward’s family and loved ones. We are very grateful for your careful consideration of the risks posed by the substance mentioned in your report, and for raising these important matters of public safety.
You have raised a number of concerns, many of which echo those previously highlighted in your report following the inquest into the death of Hannah Aitken. I would like to assure you that the Government continues to take these issues very seriously and is actively working across departments to address them.
The substance in question is currently classified as a reportable substance under the Poisons Act 1972. While this requires GB-based sellers to report suspicious transactions, we acknowledge that this obligation does not apply to sellers based overseas. My officials are currently carrying out research into the availability of the substance in question, both domestically and internationally.
The Home Office supports the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) in delivering the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2023–2028), which
2
includes targeted action on emerging methods of suicide. In recent months, my officials have been working with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and other departments to assess the feasibility of additional regulatory and non-regulatory levers for the substance in question. A cross- government workshop took place in June to explore these options. Further meetings will shortly be held between senior officials to agree recommendations for a coordinated government response.
In the meantime, the Home Office continues to engage with industry to promote responsible sales practices. My officials have engaged with selected online platforms and retailers individually to encourage them to voluntarily remove the sale of these substances to members of the public in their pure form, and be vigilant for the possibility of purchase for self-harm or suicide. For all substances within scope of the Poisons Act, the Homeland Security Group works to improve retailer awareness of their legal obligation to report suspicious activity and to inform retailer sales practices. For example, we encourage suppliers to use declaration of use forms for sales of potentially harmful substances. This work will continue to ensure suppliers are meeting their obligations under the Poisons Act.
Furthermore, if during the processing of suspicious activity reports, a safeguarding concern is identified by Counter Terrorism Policing, consideration will be given to disseminating this intelligence to police forces to consider a welfare check.
Moreover, to target potentially harmful acquisitions of this substance from overseas merchants, last year Border Force issued guidance to its officers about the control actions they must take, within existing legal provisions, if they receive any form of information suggesting that goods at the border contain items intended to assist with suicide. This relies on Border Force working closely with police forces and other relevant agencies to safeguard vulnerable individuals to the full extent possible. This work is complex, and Border Force will continue to monitor its policies, exploring opportunities to improve its ability to act where possible and to ensure that frontline Border Force staff who may encounter these items know what action to take and are supported on a case-by-case basis when required.
Thank you again for your report and for your continued efforts to prevent future deaths.
ANDREW NATHAN PAUL KENWARD REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
Thank you for the Regulation 28 report, dated 9 July 2025, sent to the Home Secretary following the inquest into the death of Andrew Kenward, who tragically died on 24th October 2022. I am responding on behalf of the Home Secretary, as the Security Minister.
Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Mr Kenward’s family and loved ones. We are very grateful for your careful consideration of the risks posed by the substance mentioned in your report, and for raising these important matters of public safety.
You have raised a number of concerns, many of which echo those previously highlighted in your report following the inquest into the death of Hannah Aitken. I would like to assure you that the Government continues to take these issues very seriously and is actively working across departments to address them.
The substance in question is currently classified as a reportable substance under the Poisons Act 1972. While this requires GB-based sellers to report suspicious transactions, we acknowledge that this obligation does not apply to sellers based overseas. My officials are currently carrying out research into the availability of the substance in question, both domestically and internationally.
The Home Office supports the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) in delivering the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2023–2028), which
2
includes targeted action on emerging methods of suicide. In recent months, my officials have been working with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and other departments to assess the feasibility of additional regulatory and non-regulatory levers for the substance in question. A cross- government workshop took place in June to explore these options. Further meetings will shortly be held between senior officials to agree recommendations for a coordinated government response.
In the meantime, the Home Office continues to engage with industry to promote responsible sales practices. My officials have engaged with selected online platforms and retailers individually to encourage them to voluntarily remove the sale of these substances to members of the public in their pure form, and be vigilant for the possibility of purchase for self-harm or suicide. For all substances within scope of the Poisons Act, the Homeland Security Group works to improve retailer awareness of their legal obligation to report suspicious activity and to inform retailer sales practices. For example, we encourage suppliers to use declaration of use forms for sales of potentially harmful substances. This work will continue to ensure suppliers are meeting their obligations under the Poisons Act.
Furthermore, if during the processing of suspicious activity reports, a safeguarding concern is identified by Counter Terrorism Policing, consideration will be given to disseminating this intelligence to police forces to consider a welfare check.
Moreover, to target potentially harmful acquisitions of this substance from overseas merchants, last year Border Force issued guidance to its officers about the control actions they must take, within existing legal provisions, if they receive any form of information suggesting that goods at the border contain items intended to assist with suicide. This relies on Border Force working closely with police forces and other relevant agencies to safeguard vulnerable individuals to the full extent possible. This work is complex, and Border Force will continue to monitor its policies, exploring opportunities to improve its ability to act where possible and to ensure that frontline Border Force staff who may encounter these items know what action to take and are supported on a case-by-case basis when required.
Thank you again for your report and for your continued efforts to prevent future deaths.