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Investigation and inquest
On 26 November 2011 an investigation was commenced into the death of Matthew Lucas Sundeep Singh (DOB 13/11/1993), who died on 23 November 2019. The investigation concluded at the end of the jury inquest on 5 November 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was drug related death.
Circumstances of the death
The circumstances of the death are as follows :-
Matthew Lucas Sundeep Singh was a prisoner at HMP Berwyn. He was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 20:42 hours on 23 November 2019 after consuming a novel psychoactive substance. He died a short time later from a cardiac arrest due to ████████ abuse.
Coroner’s concerns
The report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons into HM Berwyn from June 2025 (inspection visit 27 January to 7 February 2025) noted that:-
‘The entry and conveyance of illicit items into the prison was a major threat to its stability. In the previous 12 months, there had been over 1,000 reported finds, including 500 relating to drugs. The positive mandatory drug test rate for the previous year was high at 33.5%, and suspicion-led testing had yielded positive results of 77% over the same period. It was not surprising, therefore, that in our survey, 60% of prisoners said it was easy to get illicit drugs at Berwyn’.
Notably, the percentage of prisoners who said it was easy to get illicit drugs at Berwyn 48% in 2019, the year of Matthew’s death.
It appears that there is continuing availability and use of psychoactive substances at HMP Berwyn despite ongoing initiatives.
I consider that the use of psychoactive substances and the significant risks which they pose to the health of prisoners at HMP Berwyn will be the cause of future deaths in the prison.
Information checked against the published report and official responses