Alan Knight

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Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Alan Knight,
a prisoner at HMP Lowdham
Grange, on 2 November 2023
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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© Crown copyright, 2024
This report is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence,
visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
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1. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman aims to make a significant contribution to
safer, fairer custody and community supervision. One of the most important ways in
which we work towards that aim is by carrying out independent investigations into
deaths, due to any cause, of prisoners, young people in detention, residents of
approved premises and detainees in immigration centres.
2. If my office is to best assist His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in
ensuring the standard of care received by those within service remit is appropriate,
our recommendations should be focused, evidenced and viable. This is especially
the case if there is evidence of systemic failure.
3. In December 2016, Mr Alan Knight was sentenced to life imprisonment with a tariff
(minimum time he would spend in prison) of 18 years for an offence of murder. He
died in hospital of oesophageal cancer on 2 November 2023, while a prisoner at
HMP Lowdham Grange. He was 58 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr
Knight’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Knight’s mother to explain the investigation
and to ask if she had any matters she wanted us to consider. She had no questions
but asked for a copy of our report.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Knight’s
clinical care at Lowdham Grange.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Knight received at
Lowdham Grange was equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive
in the community. The clinical reviewer made one recommendation which did not
impact on her assessment of equivalence, that the Head of Healthcare will wish to
address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Knight’s
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no
recommendations.
8. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
9. Mr Knight’s family received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
Good Practice
10. The compassion demonstrated by the family liaison officer when Mr Knight’s
condition deteriorated and following his death was commendable. She showed
considerable empathy and her efforts went beyond what would normally be
expected.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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11. At an inquest held on 18 December 2023, the Coroner concluded that Mr Knight
died of natural causes.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman October 2024
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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