21 Mar 2024 Mary JONES · Prevention of Future Deaths report Cheshire
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Concerns raised 1 Failure to restrict sale and expedited delivery of a harmful suicide book View source
Responses linked to these concerns
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AI-generated summary
Mary JONES · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Mary Jones was found dead at home on 7 November 2023 after deliberately overdosing on medication with the intent to end her own life. In calculating a fatal dose, she consulted a book advising on suicide methods. The concern was that the book was readily available on Amazon.co.uk, including through expedited delivery, and that this availability could make suicide attempts more effective.
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× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to restrict sale and expedited delivery of a harmful suicide book
Wider context from the report “The “well known suicide book” I refer to in Box 3 is ████████ (redact on publication). As part of my investigations, I have received evidence that this book is readily available on Amazon.co.uk following a simple search for the same . Furthermore, it is available on Amazon Prime – so is available for expedited delivery .
It is the first item shown when a search is made .
Amazon, or the algorithms, are clearly aware of the potential for harm that this book can cause as there is a banner at the top giving contact numbers for the Samaritans. Despite this, the book is still on sale .
I am aware that the Area Coroner for Cheshire wrote to Amazon in December 2023 raising this same issue, but has not yet had a response.
I am concerned that the ready availability of this book will lead to people being more effective in any attempts to take their own lives .
” Open source report
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Existing content guidelines and the freedom-of-expression approach are considered sufficient, so the book will not be removed from sale.
Verbatim wording from the response “We have carefully considered the contents of the Report. As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to written speech and a variety of viewpoints is important, including books that some may find objectionable. We have content guidelines governing which books can be listed for sale and promptly investigate when a concern is raised. We have reviewed the Book against our content guidelines, taking account of your comments, and have decided not to remove it from sale.” Source location Response from Amazon
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26 Feb 2024 Deborah Jane Cooper · Prevention of Future Deaths report Wiltshire and Swindon
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Concerns raised 2 Unrestricted marketing and supply of publications providing clear instructions on methods of ending life View source Failure to regulate the supply of publications providing information on ending life View source
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
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AI-generated summary
Deborah Jane Cooper · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Deborah Jane Cooper, aged 61, died in circumstances suspected to involve carbon monoxide poisoning after apparatus was found and notes indicated an intention to end her life. The concern was that publications giving instructions on methods of ending one’s life were freely available through Amazon UK, with potentially inadequate regulation of their supply.
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× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Unrestricted marketing and supply of publications providing clear instructions on methods of ending life
Wider context from the report “That duty has arisen in this case when I discovered that books giving clear instructions as to how an individual might want to end his or her life was freely available on the open market on the Amazon.co.uk website . I am concerned that the marketing and supply of such a book giving such clear instructions and advice as regards different methods for an individual to end his or her life at their own hands is of the utmost concern as is the regulation as regards the supply of such publications whose sole purpose is to provide information to those contemplating on ending their lives.
I have identified 2 publication that give such advice and there may be more currently being marketed on the Amazon.co.uk website .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to regulate the supply of publications providing information on ending life
Wider context from the report “That duty has arisen in this case when I discovered that books giving clear instructions as to how an individual might want to end his or her life was freely available on the open market on the Amazon.co.uk website. I am concerned that the marketing and supply of such a book giving such clear instructions and advice as regards different methods for an individual to end his or her life at their own hands is of the utmost concern as is the regulation as regards the supply of such publications whose sole purpose is to provide information to those contemplating on ending their lives .
I have identified 2 publication that give such advice and there may be more currently being marketed on the Amazon.co.uk website.
” Open source report
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Existing content guidelines and protection of freedom of expression are considered sufficient; the books will not be removed from sale.
Verbatim wording from the response “We have carefully considered the contents of the Report. As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to written speech and a variety of viewpoints is important, including books that some may find objectionable. We have content guidelines governing which books can be listed for sale and promptly investigate when a concern is raised. We have reviewed each Book against our content guidelines, taking account of your comments, and have decided not to remove either of them from sale.” Source location Response from Amazon
Open published response
19 Dec 2023 Chloe Elizabeth MACDERMOTT · Prevention of Future Deaths report Inner West London
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Concerns raised 6 Lack of prominent signposting to organisations providing suicide-prevention help View source Internet availability and delivery of an unspecified item to individual users in the UK View source Open chatrooms permitting the exchange of information and methods that encourage, assist, counsel or procure suicide View source Failure of effective border and customs controls for delivery of an unspecified item to UK users View source Lack of age or other access restrictions for children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults View source Failure to effectively remove posts containing details of suicide methods View source See 3 more concerns
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
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AI-generated summary
Chloe Elizabeth MACDERMOTT · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Chloe Elizabeth MACDERMOTT died at home in the early hours of 23 May 2021 after ingesting a substance purchased through Amazon US. The report identifies concerns about online forums encouraging, assisting and counselling suicide, inadequate age restrictions and signposting to help, harmful content not being effectively removed, and the availability and delivery of the product to UK users without effective border or customs controls.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of prominent signposting to organisations providing suicide-prevention help
Wider context from the report “(6) No prominent signposting is in place to organisations from whom help is available to prevent suicide .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Internet availability and delivery of an unspecified item to individual users in the UK
Wider context from the report “(9) The availability of ████████ through the internet and its delivery to individual users in the UK with a non-commercial or agricultural use.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Open chatrooms permitting the exchange of information and methods that encourage, assist, counsel or procure suicide
Wider context from the report “(3) ████████ is a forum that permits material to be exchanged and reviewed within its open chatrooms whereby suicide is encouraged, assisted, counselled and procured through the provision and exchange of information and methods .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure of effective border and customs controls for delivery of an unspecified item to UK users
Wider context from the report “(10) The ability for UK users to purchase ████████ through Amazon in the United States and to take delivery in the United Kingdom without effective border and/or custom controls .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of age or other access restrictions for children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults
Wider context from the report “(5) No age or other restrictions are in place to prevent access to children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to effectively remove posts containing details of suicide methods
Wider context from the report “(7) Posts are made by users containing details of methods of suicide without any effective administration to remove such harmful content .
” Open source report
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Restricted global sales of high-concentration sodium nitrite to Amazon Business customers.
Verbatim wording from the response “At Amazon we work hard to earn and maintain customer trust, meaning that safety is a top priority for us. Last year, we invested more than $1.2 billion to protect our stores and our customers, building robust safety and compliance programs. We are constantly iterating and improving upon our approach. Since October 2022, we have globally restricted the sale of high concentration sodium nitrite to Amazon Business customers (which is solely focussed on business-to-business transactions) to minimize the potential for product misuse. Therefore, in countries where Amazon Business is not yet available or where local policies prohibit such sale (such as the UK store), high concentration sodium nitrite is not available for purchase.” Source location Response from Amazon UK
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Existing UK store policies prohibit high-concentration sodium nitrite sales, so the product is unavailable for purchase in the UK.
Verbatim wording from the response “At Amazon we work hard to earn and maintain customer trust, meaning that safety is a top priority for us. Last year, we invested more than $1.2 billion to protect our stores and our customers, building robust safety and compliance programs. We are constantly iterating and improving upon our approach. Since October 2022, we have globally restricted the sale of high concentration sodium nitrite to Amazon Business customers (which is solely focussed on business-to-business transactions) to minimize the potential for product misuse. Therefore, in countries where Amazon Business is not yet available or where local policies prohibit such sale (such as the UK store), high concentration sodium nitrite is not available for purchase.” Source location Response from Amazon UK
Open published response
14 Dec 2022 Fatima Abukar · Prevention of Future Deaths report East London
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Concerns raised 3 Reduced legal enforcement of unlawful e-scooter use View source Failure to provide prominent written warnings about the illegal use of e-scooters View source Failure to require head protection for riders of legally authorised scooters View source
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
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AI-generated summary
Fatima Abukar · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Fatima Abukar, a 14-year-old girl, died from catastrophic head injuries after the privately owned e-scooter she was riding entered the carriageway and struck a mini-bus. The concerns included e-scooter fatalities and enforcement, the absence of a requirement for riders of legally authorised scooters to wear head protection, and inconsistent or insufficiently prominent warnings about illegal e-scooter use.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Reduced legal enforcement of unlawful e-scooter use
Wider context from the report “1. Evidence in this inquest confirmed that since 2019 here have been 8 recorded fatalities involving e-scooters in London and 31 in the country at large. At the time of her death Ms Abukar was riding a privately owned e-scooter on a public highway. Despite the ubiquity of such devices on London’s streets, riding them on public roads is unlawful.
Whereas approximately 4000 unlawfully used scooters were seized by the Metropolitan Police Service in 2021, only 1100 were confiscated in 2022 . The reduction is attributable to a change in policy introduced in November 2021.
An inverse correlation exists between the rate of legal enforcement and the rate of deaths caused by e-scooters. The number of deaths in Q1 & 2 of 2022 is more than double that of Q1 & 2 of 2021.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to provide prominent written warnings about the illegal use of e-scooters
Wider context from the report “3. Some manufacturers and retailers of e-scooters in England and Wales provide consumers with written warnings about the illegal use of e-scooters, others do not. Where such warnings are present, often they are not prominent.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Amazon UK Services Ltd.; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to require head protection for riders of legally authorised scooters
Wider context from the report “2. Ms Abukar died due to traumatic head injuries. Riders of legally authorised scooters (those hired from licenced operators) are not required to wear head protection.
” Open source report
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Display prominent e-scooter product-page warnings prohibiting use on UK public roads or spaces and linking to current government guidance.
Verbatim wording from the response “- we include a warning on product pages for e-scooters which makes clear that they are prohibited from use in any public road or space in the UK;” Source location Response from Amazon UK
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations