First reported 3 Mar 2014•Latest report 12 Aug 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in police-custody risk-assessment arrangements, including clear guidance for custody sergeants, completion when custody is accepted, reassessment when circumstances change, and timely transfer of the assessment or its risk information to escorting or receiving custody staff before movement.
Not included
Excludes prison-only, probation or post-release risk assessments where police custody is not the bounded setting.
Excludes generic custody-record deficiencies unless they directly prevent completion, use or transfer of a police-custody risk assessment.
Excludes clinical or mental-health risk assessments unless they are explicitly part of the police-custody risk-assessment process.
Excludes failures occurring after a complete and timely police-custody risk assessment has been made available, including downstream escort or healthcare decisions.
Reports
6
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
8
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
7
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Metropolitan Police Service3
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives1
College of Policing1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Dorset Police1
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service1
HM Prison and Probation Service1
Independent Office for Police Conduct1
Maritime and Coastguard Agency1
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
National Fire Chiefs Council1
National Police Air Service1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
NHS England1
Niche Technology UK Limited1
Police force6
NHS trust2
Executive agency1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Fire and rescue service1
Health professional body1
Health-sector membership body1
Maritime rescue body1
Maritime safety agency1
Ministerial department1
National fire and rescue body1
National policing body1
Police oversight body1
Prison operator1
Prison or young offender institution1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Black Country
Concerns raised1
Failure of hospital and police custody risk assessments to identify suicide or self-harm risk before release
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Audit pre-release risk assessments monthly to monitor and improve their quality.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 September 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Mental-health input for people in police custody is provided through the locally organised Liaison and Diversion Service between police and mental-health services.
Stated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Insufficient guidance for custody sergeants assessing detainee risk
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Remind custody staff through a News Bulletin about the 12 factors indicating increased risk.
Stated by Dorset PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 June 2023.
Action
Add a first-time-in-police-custody question to the APP risk-assessment checklist.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 June 2023.
Action
Notify police forces when the amended risk-assessment checklist is issued.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 June 2023.
Action
Provide national risk-assessment principles addressing professional judgement and uncertainty in custody risk assessment.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 June 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
National guidance on custody risk assessment will be addressed by the College of Policing rather than Dorset Police.
Stated by Dorset PoliceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Many concerns in the report fall outside NHS England’s remit, so it can comment only on matters relevant to its functions.
Stated by NHS EnglandOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Dorset Police are better placed to respond to many concerns addressed to multiple parties involved in the case.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Existing professional-judgement arrangements are considered sufficient for assessing and managing custody risks; categorical high, medium and low grades are not needed.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Failure to conduct and record an adequate ongoing risk assessment
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
East London
Concerns raised1
Lack of a specific alcohol-dependency question in custody-suite risk assessments
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised3
Incomplete risk-assessment questions and documentation
Failure to open custody records and complete risk assessments
Failure to reconsider risk assessments when detainee cooperation improves
This report raised 26 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Highlight custody-record and risk-assessment requirements in custody training and remind current staff through briefing and rotational training.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 March 2015.
Action
Implement digital custody records requiring electronic recording of checks, observations, assessments and associated audit times.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 March 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing custody training and practices comply with Home Office standards; the identified failures were attributed to individual officer error rather than deficient arrangements.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
West London
Concerns raised1
Failure to complete and provide the police risk assessment before custody escort
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes failures in police-custody risk-assessment arrangements, including clear guidance for custody sergeants, completion when custody is accepted, reassessment when circumstances change, and timely transfer of the assessment or its risk information to escorting or receiving custody staff before movement.
