Stephen Riley

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Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Stephen Riley,
a prisoner at HMP Bure,
on 13 August 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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OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© 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. Mr Stephen Riley died in hospital of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (blood cancer)
on 13 August 2023, while a prisoner at HMP Bure. He was 52 years old. We offer
our condolences to Mr Riley’s family and friends.
4. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Riley’s
clinical care at Bure. She concluded that the clinical care Mr Riley received at Bure
was of a good standard and was equivalent to that which he could have expected to
receive in the community. She noted that Mr Riley was often non-compliant with his
treatment and that in her view, the healthcare team did everything they could to
encourage him to comply. She made no recommendations.
5. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Riley’s care.
We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
6. We shared our initial report with HMPPS. They found no factual inaccuracies.
Adrian Usher January 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
The inquest, held on 29 April 2024, concluded that Mr Riley died from natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE