PFD report

Michael Richie DOBSON (‘Mike’). · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 11 Feb 2021•Staffordshire South

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
1

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

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Concerns raised1

  1. Delays in remedial maintenance for cell electrical faults during lockdown
    Part of recurring concern: Unsafe control of electrical systems in prison cells
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 recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. Action

    Maintain an out-of-hours process for promptly reporting and rectifying cell electricity faults through an on-call facilities officer and Duty Manager escalation.

    Stated by Serco Home Affairs, HMP DovegateStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 15 February 2021.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Delays in remedial maintenance for cell electrical faults during lockdown

Wider context from the report

“The hanging incident occurred after prison lockdown. Shortly prior to this the electricity supply for the sockets in the cell had tripped. Mike had used his cell bell to call a prison officer and he was told it would be sorted out but probably not until the next day. The inquest also heard that in some cases (not Mike’s) that cell lights will trip and this tends to take out four cells. It is also possible that other damage may be caused to cells. I am aware that there are very limited staff and security concerns following lockdown. If however prisoners become aware that remedial action may not take place until the following day this does provide a potential (either deliberate or accidental) for prisoners to harm themselves. I wonder if it is possible for some form of basic maintenance to be available during lockdown hours. If this concern appears more to be a national one rather than a local one then please feel free to pass it on to whoever it is appropriate to deal with it. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unsafe control of electrical systems in prison cells.

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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

Maintain an out-of-hours process for promptly reporting and rectifying cell electricity faults through an on-call facilities officer and Duty Manager escalation.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In response to the Regulation 28 letter dated 11th February 2021, (case ID; ████████), regarding the investigation and inquest in the death of Mr Michael Richie Dobson, HMP Dovegate’s Safer Custody department have ensured that there is a system in place to remedy electricity faults within cells during out of hours facilities times.”

Source location

2021-0035-Response-from-Serco-Home-Affairs-HMP-Dovegate-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 15 February 2021

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Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    The death was not an example of electricity being left inactive.

    Stated by Serco Home Affairs, HMP DovegateDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.

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

The death was not an example of electricity being left inactive.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Whilst the death of Mr Michael Richie Dobson is not an example of electricity being left inactive, HMP Dovegate’s management team recognise that inadequate basic supplies in cells could result in a Prisoner harming themselves and could cause unnecessary emotional distress.”

Source location

2021-0035-Response-from-Serco-Home-Affairs-HMP-Dovegate-Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 15 February 2021

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026