Andrew David Machin · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 12 August 2016 an investigation was opened into the death of Andrew David Machin aged 45, a prison officer at HMP Onley in Northamptonshire. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 5 October 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was suicide.

By hanging from a tree in woods known as Pailton Pastures with a ligature made from heavy duty rope purchased at 15.34 hours at Homebase in Rugby, just over an hour after he had been informed of the Prison Service’s decision to dismiss him after 18 years of service. He was last seen in the Rugby area at around 15.50 hours that same afternoon which was the 9 May 2016. His body was discovered by police at 18.47 hours on 10 May 2016.

(1)Mr Machin appeared to have had limited support from prison management during the disciplinary investigation process, despite the fact that this process continued for nearly 5 months prior to his disciplinary hearing on 9 May 2016 and he was suspended from his employment throughout this time.
(2) Notwithstanding the fact that Mr Machin’s death occurred in such close proximity in time to his disciplinary hearing and subsequent dismissal, there had been no internal investigation into the circumstances of that dismissal process to identify whether there had been any errors made or any lessons to be learned from it. This seemed all the more surprising in view of the fact that I was informed at the Inquest that although summarily dismissed, Mr Machin would have still been considered to be an employee until the time of any appeal of that dismissal had elapsed