Deaths in Prison Custody Action Group

Overview

In November 2019, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice commissioned an independent review into the response to deaths in prison custody, in recognition of the need for increased transparency and better engagement with families following a death in prison custody. The Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody was published in November 2021. The review made one key recommendation, nineteen other recommendations and six advisory points. We accepted in principle all of the recommendations made by the review.

In April 2022, Gillian Imery was appointed as an external chair to provide independent oversight and leadership to the implementation of all the recommendations of the Independent Review. A Deaths in Prison Custody Action Group (DIPCAG) chaired by Gillian Imery has been established to oversee and support the work required to ensure effective, innovative and robust implementation of the recommendations and advisory points.

Membership of the group is made up of representatives of agencies with responsibility for responding to deaths in prison custody along with representatives of those bereaved by a death in prison custody. A Family Reference Group has also been established comprising of family members with lived experience of a bereavement in prison custody to support the work of the group. The group's vision is a consistent, person-centred, trauma-informed response to all deaths in prison custody with early independent scrutiny of the circumstances of a death, a focus on identifying trends and systemic issues and meaningful involvement of bereaved families.

Members

families bereaved by a death in prison custody
Scottish Prison Service
National Prison Care Network, NHS
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Police Service of Scotland
Families Outside
Scottish Government

This group has been established to deliver on recommendations 1.1 and 3.4 of the Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody.

This group reports to the Deaths in Prison Custody Action Group (DiPCAG) which oversees putting the recommendations on the Independent Review in place.

The group brings together leaders of national oversight bodies including:

Healthcare Improvement Scotland
NHS Boards
Care Inspectorate
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
other relevant policy leads

The group works with families to develop a framework to prevent deaths in prison custody.

The group also supports compliance with the State’s Article 2 right to life obligations. To do this the group works with families and are undertaking a review. The review will look into the main causes of all deaths in prison custody and what can be done to prevent such deaths.

Members