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About us

The role of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC), a non-departmental public body co-sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care, is to provide independent advice and expertise to the Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody – with the central aim of preventing deaths in custody. 

The IAPDC provides guidance on policy and best practice across sectors and makes recommendations to Ministers and operational services. It assists Ministers to meet their human rights obligations to protect life. The IAPDC’s aim is to bring about a continuing and sustained reduction in the number and rate of deaths in all forms of state custody in England and Wales.

The work of the IAPDC aims to be as transparent and inclusive as possible. The intention is that everyone with an interest in preventing deaths in custody should have the opportunity to contribute to this work. The IAPDC is committed to consulting and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders in order to collect, analyse and disseminate relevant information about deaths in custody and the lessons that can be learned from them. Please do use this website as a resource to share good practice and learning on preventing the number of deaths in custody.

The IAPDC has been in existence since 2009. Its origins lie in the Fulton report which was tasked to review the previous Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody. Read the report and its findings below.

The Fulton Report (December 2007)

The IAPDC have updated an agreement with HMPPS at the request of the Director General of Prisons to formalise the Service’s relationship with the IAPDC. This is in relation to reducing and preventing deaths in prison.

IAPDC and HMPPS agreement on reducing and preventing deaths in prison (July 2023)

Professor Seena Fazel, IAPDC member, talks to the Oxford Policy Engagement Network about his work with the IAPDC to help inform government policy to prevent deaths in custody.