Stats reveal just eight police custody deaths in Nottinghamshire in the last decade

Just two per cent of all deaths in police custody in England and Wales in the last decade have occurred in Nottinghamshire.
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More than 120 people died in police custody across England and Wales between 2011 and 2019.

But Ministry of Justice figures show just eight of these deaths were recorded by Nottinghamshire Coroner's Court.

The figures include people held in prisons and those detained under the Mental Health Act.

Only eight deaths have occurred in police custody in Nottinghamshire in the last decadeOnly eight deaths have occurred in police custody in Nottinghamshire in the last decade
Only eight deaths have occurred in police custody in Nottinghamshire in the last decade

The death of George Floyd in the USA has brought the issue of people dying in police custody, particularly those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, into sharp focus.

Though the ethnicity of those who died is not available, separate figures from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints against police forces, show that between 2009-10 and 2018-19 black people made up eight per cent of deaths in UK police custody.

This was despite them comprising just three per cent of the population, according to estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

An IOPC spokeswoman said: “Every death in police custody or death following police contact can have a tragic and lifelong impact on the family and friends of those who have died.

“It can also have a lasting impact on those involved in their detention.

“It is critical that we thoroughly examine the circumstances of each to ensure that those involved are held accountable, and importantly to identify if there are lessons to be learnt to help prevent future deaths."

The IOPC added that it was concerned that last year's figures showed a high proportion of people dying who were vulnerable through mental health, and had links to drugs and alcohol.

It said this was system-wide issue, not just a policing one, that needs addressed by all involved.

A Government spokesman said: “Every death in police custody is a tragedy and we are fully aware of the lasting impact this can have on family and friends.

"Deaths are always investigated by the Independent Office of Police Conduct, but it is vital we do everything possible to prevent them happening in the first place.

“This is why we are committed to delivering on the recommendation’s published in the 2017 independent review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody.”