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.
What is 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.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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
Reports and published responses 6 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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.
Linked responses
the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
West Midlands Police
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
West Midlands Police
Audit pre-release risk assessments monthly to monitor and improve their quality.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Mental-health input for people in police custody is provided through the locally organised Liaison and Diversion Service between police and mental-health services.
Redirects 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.
Linked responses
College of Policing
Dorset Police
National Police Chiefs’ Council
NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Dorset Police
Remind custody staff through a News Bulletin about the 12 factors indicating increased risk.
College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
Add a first-time-in-police-custody question to the APP risk-assessment checklist.
College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
Notify police forces when the amended risk-assessment checklist is issued.
College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
Provide national risk-assessment principles addressing professional judgement and uncertainty in custody risk assessment.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Dorset Police
National guidance on custody risk assessment will be addressed by the College of Policing rather than Dorset Police.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS England
Many concerns in the report fall outside NHS England’s remit, so it can comment only on matters relevant to its functions.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
NHS England
Dorset Police are better placed to respond to many concerns addressed to multiple parties involved in the case.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
Existing professional-judgement arrangements are considered sufficient for assessing and managing custody risks; categorical high, medium and low grades are not needed.
Existing 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.
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.
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.
Linked response
South Yorkshire Police
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
South Yorkshire Police
Highlight custody-record and risk-assessment requirements in custody training and remind current staff through briefing and rotational training.
South Yorkshire Police
Implement digital custody records requiring electronic recording of checks, observations, assessments and associated audit times.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
South Yorkshire Police
Existing custody training and practices comply with Home Office standards; the identified failures were attributed to individual officer error rather than deficient arrangements.
Existing 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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.