Deaths following police contact

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has published the annual deaths following police contact statistics for 2012/13.

Of the 15 deaths in police custody nearly half (7 out of 15) of those who died were known to have mental health issues. Four died after being restrained by the police.

The IPCC also reported 'a considerable rise in the number of apparent suicides within two days of release from police custody, with 64 such deaths, the highest number recorded over the last nine years.' Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, described the number of suicides following release from police custody as 'extremely alarming'.