Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Christopher Moss

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0066, written 26 Feb 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report26 Feb 2019
Reference2019-0066
DeceasedChristopher Moss
CoronerAndrew Haigh
Coroner areaStaffordshire (South)
CategoryState Custody related deaths · Suicide (from 2015)
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

Michael Spurr

Chief Executive

Ministry of Justice

70 Petty France,London SW1H 9AJ

CORONER

| am Mr Andrew Haigh senior coroner for the coroner area of Staffordshire South

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act
2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 21 February 2017 | commenced an investigation into the death of Christopher
Andrew Moss aged 51 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest
on 25 February 2019. The conclusion of the inquest was suicide with the main
cause of death being haemorrhage from incised injury to left wrist.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Basic: a) Mr Christopher Andrew MOSS was a serving prisoner at HMP
Featherstone who died whilst on House Unit 6 on 18th February 2017 as a
result of a self-inflicted incision to left wrist.

Probable: b) Locked cell door and restricted view via the door observation
hatch; barricading of cell door.

Possible: c) Threats; state of mind

CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed a matter giving rise to
concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is
taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. —

The conclusions of the investigations by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman led
to a suitable action plan being implemented at HMP Featherstone in matters relating
to violence reduction, discharge from mental health team and barricade incidents.
At the incident when Christopher died initially a hydraulic jack to open the cell door
was summoned to the scene when the appropriate equipment was a hooligan bar (it
did in fact arrive very soon afterwards). | am aware that there is a gradual process
in the prison estate to move towards cell doors that can be opened outwards if

necessary in addition to normally opening inwards. My concern however is that for
doors that are not dual opening prisons should have appropriate equipment
available to deal with barricade situations. Should there be a check or audit to
ensure that the correct equipment for the relevant doors are located appropriately at
prisons?

'8 | COPIES and PUBLICATION

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you or
your organisation has the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of
this report, namely by 23.4.2019. |, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting
out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons — Irwin Mitchell solicitors (acting for the family), BLM solicitors (acting for
Care UK) and the Government Legal Service (your solicitors). | have also sent it to
the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Thompsons solicitors (acting for the Prison
Officers Association) and the Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Featherstone
who may find it useful or of interest.

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it
useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time
of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief
Coroner.

26 February 2019

wlbhon A. Mpc

Andrew A Haigh

HM Senior Coroner for Staffordshire (South)
Coroner’s Office

No 1 Staffordshire Place

Stafford

ST16 2LP

Tel No: 01785 276127
sscor@staffordshire.gov.uk

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