Police

Inquests into Deaths in Police Custody or During an Arrest

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (formerly known as the IPCC) will conduct a report should a person die in police custody or, in extreme circumstance, during an arrest. They will send that report onto the coroner who will use it to aid the inquest they carry out. The types of deaths that may occur whilst in contact with the police are broken down into different categories:

• Death in custody;
• Death by shooting;
• Death in a Response to Intervention(RTI); and
• Death during pursuit.

It is important to remember that not all deaths which require a police inquest occur at a police station, they must occur when in contact with the police. It should also be noted that a self-inflicted death is not included in this sort of inquest.

If someone dies whilst being detained by the police, or died during an arrest, an inquest into their death is used to identify cause. It can be stressful when coping with the death of a loved one, making an inquest difficult to process.

Our Action Against Public Authorities solicitors are able to represent you during an inquest led by Independent Office for Police Conduct and support you through the process. Our solicitors can also assist with appealing the result of an inquest.

If you have another complaint against the police which does not relate to an inquest, please visit our Action Against the Police page for more information.

To discuss an inquest when a death has occurred whilst in contact with the police, call Duncan Lewis Action Against Public Authorities solicitors on 0333 772 0409.