Review of young adult deaths in custody announced

The Ministry of Justice has announced a review into the deaths of 18-24 year olds in custody, to be conducted by the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody.

The announcement follows a letter in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, co-signed by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, calling for wide-ranging review of the way children and young people in conflict with the law are treated.

INQUEST, who coordinated the Telegraph letter, welcomed the announcement. But it described as 'shameful' the exclusion of under 18s from consideration in the review 'given that some of the most compelling evidence about systemic failings' are raised by deaths among this younger age group.