In 2016-17 there were three deaths in, or following, police custody in the Metropolitan Police.1 Cases such as these continue to raise questions about the treatment of detainees while in police care.
Many thousands of people pass through the Metropolitan Police’s custody suites each year. Last year, over 40 per cent of the 170,000 people taken into custody needed to see a healthcare professional.
The Met has a duty to keep detainees safe, but there are concerns about a shortage of healthcare professionals; that young children are being kept in cells overnight; and that vulnerable adults may not get the care they need.
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will tomorrow discuss ongoing concerns around the quality of care being provided to people in custody suites.
From 10:00am the guests are:
- Dr Amandeep Ranu, Forensic Medical Examiner
- Jason Payne-James, Forensic Medical Examiner
- Jon Duggan, Custody Nurse Practitioner
- PS Andy Watts, Metropolitan Police
- Simon Mackenzie, Independent Custody Adviser
- Andy Crowther, Westminster Police Liaison and Diversion Service
From 11:00am (approx.) the guests are:
- Sinéad Dervin, Senior Mental Health Commissioning Manager, Health & Justice Team, NHS England
- Commander Neil Jerome, Metropolitan Police
- Rebecca Lawrence, Chief Executive, MOPAC
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 7 March 2018 from 10:00am in The Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE via webcast or 
YouTube
Follow us 
@LondonAssembly and take part in the meeting discussion using #AssemblyPolice and #HealthInCustody
Notes to editors
- Independent Office for Police Conduct, Deaths during or following police contact, (accessed 5 March 2018).
- Full agenda papers
- Steve O’Connell AM, Chairman of the Police and Crime Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- Police & Crime Committee
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Lam on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.