Investigation and inquest
On 31st October 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Declan Carr aged 26 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 3rd October 2025.
The inquest was heard by a Jury.
The narrative conclusion of the inquest was:
On 28th August 2023 Declan Lewis Carr died ████████ hung himself in his cell at HMP Humber, his intention was unknown due to him having consumed synthetic cannabinoids prior to his death.
Circumstances of the death
On 28th August 2023 at approximately 0543 hours Declan Carr was found in his cell on the Mike Wing at HMP Humber in Everthorpe.
He was declared deceased at 0620 hours by paramedics.
Declan ████████ but we are unable to determine his intention, due to the presence of synthetic cannabinoids in his system, which could have had an effect on his state of mind.
Whilst at HMP Hull, Declan was referred by the DART team to mental health services on 22nd June 2023, but no further action was taken following a remote triage. The lack of communication to Declan regarding this decision was a failure.
Following Declan's move from HMP Hull to HMP Humber on 16th August 2023, there was no handover from psychosocial support for substance misuse issues, which is a failure in communication.
On arrival at HMP Humber on 16th August 2023 Declan underwent a Healthcare reception screening which we have found was insufficient.
There was a serious failure to complete the EDIC form by multiple prison personnel during the induction and therefore the standard of induction was insufficient at HMP Humber.
During his time at HMP Humber, Declan was not allocated a Keyworker, this is a failure.
All failures identified were not causative of Mr Declan Carr's death.
Coroner’s concerns
Mr Carr was receiving psycho-social support regarding his substance misuse from healthcare services whilst he was in HMP Hull. He was due to have a further appointment with them on 16th August 2023. However, on this date Mr Carr was transferred to HMP Humber.
HMP Humber were not made aware that Mr Carr was receiving psycho-social support and there was no handover to the support services in HMP Humber. There was then no support in place for Mr Carr.
During the inquest I heard evidence that if Mr Carr had been receiving clinical support for drug misuse there would have been a handover for that to continue.
I was also made aware that HMP Humber and HMP Hull now have a local policy in place to allow the prisons to share information about those that are receiving psycho-social support when transferring prisoners between these 2 prisons as they are the same agency that provide that service.
However, I was informed that this a purely local arrangement and this is not a process that happens nationally and would cease if one of the prisons changed providers.
If there is a lack of continuity of care for prisoners receiving psycho-social for drug misuse support then there is a risk of future deaths occurring.