PFD report

Mary JONES · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 21 Mar 2024•Cheshire

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

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Failure to restrict sale and expedited delivery of a harmful suicide book
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate controls on access to online suicide-promoting content
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Position

    Existing content guidelines and the freedom-of-expression approach are considered sufficient, so the book will not be removed from sale.

    Stated by Amazon UK Services Ltd.Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

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

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. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate controls on access to online suicide-promoting content.

Open source report

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
Page 1 · response
Published 25 March 2024

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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-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. 1

    Display product-page banners for potentially controversial titles explaining how customers can access free, confidential Samaritans advice.

    Stated by Amazon UK Services Ltd.Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 March 2024.

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 product-page banners for potentially controversial titles explaining how customers can access free, confidential Samaritans advice.

Verbatim wording from the response

“At the same time, we are committed to taking measures not to surprise customers with potentially controversial or sensitive content. We display a banner on the product detail page of titles like the Book referenced in the Report, which presents customers with information on how to access free and confidential advice from the Samaritans.”

Source location

Response from Amazon
Page 1 · response
Published 25 March 2024

Open published response
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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