Deaths in police custody during 1994: a retrospective analysis

This paper presents the results of a retrospective analysis of deaths in police custody from 1 January to 31 December 1994. During that year, there were 32 such deaths in the UK. For purposes of analysis, the deaths were grouped into three principal categories based on the frequency of their occurrence: deaths by hanging (12); deaths among those arrested for drunkenness (11) and other deaths (9). By considering the results of this study together with a comprehensive literature review, several strategies for reducing the frequency of deaths in police custody are proposed.