PFD report

Jason THOMPSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

Pin Get email alerts Request correction

Issued 20 Nov 2020•County Durham and Darlington

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.

View original report
Concerns
2

Raised in this report

Recipients
3

Named on the report

Responses found
3

Of 3 recipients

Stated actions
15

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

Open published report

Concerns and recipient responses

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

Concerns raised2

  1. Unrestricted availability of a lethal substance as a meat preservative
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate controls on the sale and online access to highly toxic substances
  2. Active promotion of a particular method of death by suicide
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.11

  1. Action

    Investigate available data on suicides using this method and identify steps to prevent further deaths from this and emerging methods.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
  2. Action

    Continue implementing suicide-prevention strategy and cross-government workplan measures to reduce access to suicide methods and harmful online content.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
  3. Action

    Invite Home Office officials to brief NHS, public health and suicide-prevention partners on chemical-seller safeguards and specialist support for people at risk.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 December 2020.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.2

  1. Position

    Online-harm concerns are assigned to DCMS, while concerns about sale of reportable substances are assigned to the Home Office.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

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

Unrestricted availability of a lethal substance as a meat preservative

Wider context from the report

“‘████████ is used to preserve and cure meat, to which it imparts a pink-red colour. The minimum lethal dose is ████████. ████████ can be readily bought via the ████████. For example, it is possibly to buy up to ████████ for a few pounds on ████████, without restriction. A chapter from Salts’, available ████████, describes the use of ████████ to commit suicide and compares it with ████████ and ████████.” (1) ████████ may be actively promoting a particular method of death by suicide and hence breaking the criminal law by assisting suicide. (2) That such a lethal substance ████████ should be so freely available on a popular ████████ ████████, sold by a company (████████) under the guise of being a meat preservative. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate controls on the sale and online access to highly toxic substances.

Open source report

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

Active promotion of a particular method of death by suicide

Wider context from the report

“‘████████ is used to preserve and cure meat, to which it imparts a pink-red colour. The minimum lethal dose is ████████. ████████ can be readily bought via the ████████. For example, it is possibly to buy up to ████████ for a few pounds on ████████, without restriction. A chapter from Salts’, available ████████, describes the use of ████████ to commit suicide and compares it with ████████ and ████████.” (1) ████████ may be actively promoting a particular method of death by suicide and hence breaking the criminal law by assisting suicide. (2) That such a lethal substance ████████ should be so freely available on a popular ████████ ████████, sold by a company (████████) under the guise of being a meat preservative. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

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

Investigate available data on suicides using this method and identify steps to prevent further deaths from this and emerging methods.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I am advised that suicide prevention policy leads in the health system, at the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England (PHE), and NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI), are alert to the risk posed by websites promoting suicide methods, and their direction on the use of certain chemicals in completing suicide, including the substance taken by Mr Thompson. These organisations, along with key stakeholders and academics, are looking at what data is available on suicides by this method and at what steps we can take to stop further loss of life by this method.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Continue implementing suicide-prevention strategy and cross-government workplan measures to reduce access to suicide methods and harmful online content.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We continue to take action to reduce suicide rates through the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England¹ and the first Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan², which sets out an ambitious programme across national and local government and the NHS. The Workplan include actions to reduce access to the means of suicide, including through harmful online content.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Invite Home Office officials to brief NHS, public health and suicide-prevention partners on chemical-seller safeguards and specialist support for people at risk.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In addition to the cross-Government group set up to put in place steps to tackle emerging methods of suicide, officials at the Department of Health and Social Care have also invited HO officials to brief partners in NHSEI, PHE and suicide prevention stakeholders on what HO can do to ensure that sellers of these chemicals are aware of their potential use in suicide, and on what can be done to get specialist support to those who might be at risk.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 3 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Work with other government departments to explore further measures addressing this chemical and emerging suicide methods.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The concerns that Mr Thompson’s death raises sit within the policy remits of a range of Government departments, including the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) for its work on online harms; and the Home Office (HO) for its work on the sale of reportable substances³. Officials have shared your concerns with those Departments and are working with officials from those and other Government departments to explore what further steps we can take to prevent further tragedies, both for this chemical, and any other emerging methods.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Report the remaining Sodium Nitrite listing shipping to the United Kingdom for removal or restriction.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As of today (when I have just checked) I am pleased to say that there are no listings for Sodium Nitrite on either eBay or Etsy . It is however still available on ████████ with shipping to United Kingdom.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Metalchem-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Contact other online sellers to request removal of Sodium Nitrite listings where the purchase purpose cannot reasonably be ascertained.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I have since April proactively contacted a number of other sellers to request that they stop selling Sodium Nitrite NaNO2 (SN) online when clearly the reason for purchase cannot be reasonably ascertained. I have also enlisted the help of ████████ in removing a number of persistent sellers both on Ebay and then more recently this month on Etsy - and I regularly check these sites”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Metalchem-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Coordinate removal of persistent Sodium Nitrite sellers’ listings on eBay and Etsy.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I have since April proactively contacted a number of other sellers to request that they stop selling Sodium Nitrite NaNO2 (SN) online when clearly the reason for purchase cannot be reasonably ascertained. I have also enlisted the help of ████████ in removing a number of persistent sellers both on Ebay and then more recently this month on Etsy - and I regularly check these sites”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Metalchem-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Withdraw Sodium Nitrite listings from Metalchem’s eBay sales.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I can confirm that Sodium Nitrite (which is used extensively in meat curing, preservation and in numerous chemical processes) is no longer sold by Metalchem on eBay. We withdrew the listing immediately back in April 2020 when we became aware that it was being recommended on these dreadful suicide forums for young people – notably ████████ – both of which are still sadly still active.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Metalchem-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Prohibit the global sale of sodium nitrite as a chemical.

Verbatim wording from the response

“By way of background, in 2019 eBay took the voluntary decision to prohibit globally the sale of sodium nitrite as a chemical, after receiving a report of potential use of the substance for suicide attempts. In addition to updating our prohibited items policy, eBay updated its filters, which are used to help detect and prevent the listing for sale of this chemical.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Ebay-UK-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Continue working with relevant authorities to monitor developments and rigorously enforce the sodium nitrite prohibition.

Verbatim wording from the response

“However, please be assured that we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to keep abreast of developments and ensure that our policy prohibiting the sale of sodium nitrite as a chemical will continue to be enforced rigorously. As you will be aware, sodium nitrite in its pure form is still available for sale on the internet via other websites and platforms. We would therefore support stricter regulations restricting the online sale of sodium nitrite as a chemical in its pure form via the internet in order to prevent further such tragic cases in the future.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Ebay-UK-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Improve and continuously update filters and blocking algorithms to detect and prevent sodium nitrite listings.

Verbatim wording from the response

“By way of background, in 2019 eBay took the voluntary decision to prohibit globally the sale of sodium nitrite as a chemical, after receiving a report of potential use of the substance for suicide attempts. In addition to updating our prohibited items policy, eBay updated its filters, which are used to help detect and prevent the listing for sale of this chemical.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Ebay-UK-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Online-harm concerns are assigned to DCMS, while concerns about sale of reportable substances are assigned to the Home Office.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The concerns that Mr Thompson’s death raises sit within the policy remits of a range of Government departments, including the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) for its work on online harms; and the Home Office (HO) for its work on the sale of reportable substances³. Officials have shared your concerns with those Departments and are working with officials from those and other Government departments to explore what further steps we can take to prevent further tragedies, both for this chemical, and any other emerging methods.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Curing salts may continue to be sold because their low sodium nitrite content and emetic effects make harmful ingestion less likely.

Verbatim wording from the response

“It is worth clarifying that sodium nitrite does occur as a legal ingredient in other products, such as meat curing salts. These were highlighted in recent press articles as being available on eBay. The amount of sodium nitrite in such products, at about 6%, is a small proportion of the overall product compared to the amount of sodium chloride, which is itself injurious to health if consumed in large quantities. Furthermore, the emetic effects of sodium chloride means that ingesting large amounts of curing salts is likely to make an individual vomit. Therefore, after taking advice, we have concluded that curing salts can continue to be sold on the site.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Ebay-UK-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 2 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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.4

  1. 1

    Invest £57 million through the NHS Long Term Plan to support local suicide-prevention plans and establish suicide-bereavement services nationwide by 2023/24.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
  2. 2

    Work with local government to assure the effectiveness of multi-agency suicide-prevention plans.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
  3. 3

    Provide almost £600,000 to help local authorities strengthen their suicide-prevention plans.

    Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
  4. 4

    Regularly check eBay and Etsy for Sodium Nitrite listings.

    Stated by Metalchem LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 December 2020.

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

Invest £57 million through the NHS Long Term Plan to support local suicide-prevention plans and establish suicide-bereavement services nationwide by 2023/24.

Verbatim wording from the response

“More generally, from 2019/20, we are investing £57million in suicide prevention through the NHS Long Term Plan⁷. This will see investment in all areas of the country by 2023/24 to support local suicide prevention plans and establish suicide bereavement support services.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 3 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Work with local government to assure the effectiveness of multi-agency suicide-prevention plans.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In addition, every local authority now has a multi-agency suicide prevention plan in place. We are working with local government to assure the effectiveness of those plans, and we invested almost £600,000 in 2019/20 to support local authorities to strengthen their plans.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 3 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Provide almost £600,000 to help local authorities strengthen their suicide-prevention plans.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In addition, every local authority now has a multi-agency suicide prevention plan in place. We are working with local government to assure the effectiveness of those plans, and we invested almost £600,000 in 2019/20 to support local authorities to strengthen their plans.”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Dept.-of-Health-Social-Care-Redacted.pdf
Page 3 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response

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

Regularly check eBay and Etsy for Sodium Nitrite listings.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I have since April proactively contacted a number of other sellers to request that they stop selling Sodium Nitrite NaNO2 (SN) online when clearly the reason for purchase cannot be reasonably ascertained. I have also enlisted the help of ████████ in removing a number of persistent sellers both on Ebay and then more recently this month on Etsy - and I regularly check these sites”

Source location

2020-0246-Response-from-Metalchem-Ltd-Redacted.pdf
Page 1 · response
Published 24 December 2020

Open published response
Back to top

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