Recommendation 1
The IOPC recommends that Hampshire Constabulary should ensure that all custody staff are made aware of the risk of leaving detainees with unsupervised access to cutlery, as such items can be manipulated to cause serious injury to the detainee or others. Hampshire Constabulary should review their custody policies to clarify guidance around the provision of cutlery. Firstly, in terms of procedures for providing cutlery to detainees who are experiencing active suicide ideation, or who are otherwise at an elevated risk of self-harm and, secondly, with regard to procedures for removing cutlery from cells after use. Force custody policies should be consistent with the guidance outlined in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice.
This recommendation follows an IOPC review of a local investigation report into a serious injury in custody. In this case the detained person had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts in custody and was left with unsupervised access to a Spork, as it was not removed after use and was left in the cell for over two hours. The detained person sharpened the Spork and attempted to use it to cut his wrists. The detained person then used the Spork to remove a length of elastic from a pair of trousers deemed safe by custody staff. The Spork was used to tighten a ligature formed from the elastic around the detained person’s neck, which caused him to lose consciousness.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Addressed to: Hampshire Constabulary
Linked bodies:
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary