Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2021

Mustafa Abdelkarim

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2021-0393, written 19 Nov 2021. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report19 Nov 2021
Reference2021-0393
DeceasedMustafa Abdelkarim
CoronerCaroline Saunders
Coroner areaGwent
CategoryWales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards) · Other related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. (cid:9) The Home Office 

1 

CORONER 

2 

3 

I am Caroline Saunders, Senior Coroner for the Area of Gwent 

CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS 

I 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 2/8/2018 an investigation was opened into the death of 

Mustafa Dawood Bakhat ABDELKARIM (Mustafa Dawood) 

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on: 5/11/21 when a jury 
determined the following: 

The conclusion of the inquest was recorded as a narrative in the following terms 

On 30th June 2018 Mustafa Dawood was working at the Shaftesbury Hand Car Wash 
on Albany Street in Newport. At 10:08 Immigration Officers attended to undertake an 
enforcement visit. Mustafa ran away from the Officer in Charge and was pursued into 
a warehouse. Mustafa climbed on shelving and then though a metal door eventually 
accessing the roof of the building. Mustafa ran across the roof and fell through some 
plastic roofing material into the room below. Mustafa sustained severe fatal head 
injuries and was conveyed to hospital. Despite the efforts of the officers at the scene 

to resuscitate Mustafa and the clinical teams, Mustafa died from his injuries at the 
University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff at 14:45 on 30th June 2018. 

1.  During the pursuit Mustafa started to climb and it was determined that the 

pursuit should be abandoned. Nonetheless officers remained relatively close and 
did not withdraw to a distance away from him. We consider that maintaining this 
proximity contributed to Mustafa's death. 

2.  We consider that the decision to abandon the pursuit was not effectively 

communicated to all officers and that could have been a contributing factor to 
Mustafa's death. 

 3.  The decision for the officer to keep his baton in a racked position could have 

contributed to Mustafa's death 

4.  The officers were not appropriately trained in pursuit procedures, and this could 

have contributed to Mustafa's death. 

The medical cause of death was: 

1a) Traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage. 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

The circumstances of Mustafa's Dawood's death are set out in the narrative 

provided by the jury and need no further explanation 

5 

CORONER'S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest, evidence revealed matters 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  MATTERS OF CONCERN  are as follows: - 

1. (cid:9) Training in Pursuit for Immigration Officers. 

The jury heard that during the induction process all Immigration Officers are 

introduced to the Pursuit Policy. However none of the Officers had undergone 

training in pursuit or in how to make decisions in those stressful situations. The 

jury determined that the lack of training could have contributed to Mustafa 

Dawood's death as has been reflected in their conclusion. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have 
the power to take such action. 

I should be grateful if the following information be provided to me: 

1. (cid:9) Confirm whether any steps have or will be taken to provide practical training 

to Immigration Officers in pursuit situations. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this 
report, namely 14/01/2022, I, the Coroner, may extend this 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 necessary. 

 8 

COPIES AND PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and the following Interested 
Person (s) 

The family of Mustafa Dawood Bakhat ABDELKARIM 

I 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 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. 

9 

DATE 19/11/21 

Signed 

Caroline Saunders 

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for the Area of Gwent.

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Immigration Enforcement (PDF)
Inquest touching the death of Mustafa Dawood Bakhat Abdelkarim (Mustafa 
Dawood) 

Response to Regulation 28 Report 

1. This letter is sent on behalf of Immigration Enforcement (IE) in response to the 
Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths. 

2. In providing this response to the Coroner's Report, IE wishes to repeat the offering 
of their sincere condolences to Mustafa Dawood's family, and emphasise their 
commitment to addressing the matters of concern raised by the Coroner. 

3. The jury determined at the end of the inquest that the lack of pursuit training for 
Immigration Officers could have contributed to Mustafa Dawood's death. The coroner 
highlighted that whilst officers are introduced to the Pursuit Policy during induction 
training, they are not trained in pursuit or in how to make decisions in those stressful 
situations. It was determined there is a continuing risk of accidents or death unless 
action is taken to provide more practical training to Immigration Officers involved in 
pursuit situations. 

The current position 

4.  Pursuit Policy guidance is in place and, as noted by the coroner, Immigration 
Officers are introduced to the policy during induction training as part of the National 
Decision Model learning which includes operational considerations. Officer training 
covers the pursuit policy with an emphasis on safety and communication during typical 
immigration operations. The induction package and a five day Officer in Charge (OIC) 
course also provide training for officers on the roles and responsibilities of team 
members during operational activity. 

Action to be taken 

5. As a result of the coroner's findings, IE has carried out a thorough review of the 
existing guidance and training. Going forward the learning will provide greater focus 
and clarity on situations where dynamic decision making may be required. In 
particular: 

•  Legal powers. Officers will be reminded of the powers available to them during 
immigration operations and in the event that a pursuit situation may arise; 
•  Dynamic decision making and communication at pace. The learning will cover 
potential pursuit situations and the need to consider contingencies and other 
options besides pursuit. 

The training material will be reviewed on an ongoing and continuous basis to ensure 
it remains relevant and is aligned with any policy changes and the most current 
guidance. 

 6. The training will be mandatory for all officers with Personal Safety Training at Level 
3 and will be delivered by Immigration Enforcement Business Embedded Trainers who 
are immigration officers experienced in the operational role. The training will be 
delivered: 

•  from April 2022 to all new officers as part of their induction course with a 

refresher annually thereafter 

•  to existing staff as part of their annual arrest refresher training from April 2022. 
All existing operational staff will therefore receive the training over the course 
of 12 months and by the end of April 2023. 

7.  Pursuit policy will be incorporated into the operational assurance framework to 
ensure that officers' awareness, knowledge, understanding and application of the 
policy are tested and evaluated on an ongoing basis. 

The content of the policy will be reviewed on an ongoing and continuous basis and, if 
there are changes made to guidance or legislation, an update will be sent out directly 
to every operational officer providing detailed instructions. Where there is a major 
policy change, this update may be supplemented by ad hoc training which would be 
delivered by Business Expert Trainers (BETs). 

Evaluation is carried out by operational managers within each Immigration Compliance 
and Enforcement team. There is also a national operational assurance team which 
assures the work of arrest teams both remotely and by attending operational visits, 
producing reports outlining any areas for improvement. There are also knowledge 
checks included as part of all induction and refresher training to test understanding. 

Conclusion 

8. IE hopes that the action set out above adequately addresses the concerns raised 
by the coroner. If, however, further information or clarification would be of assistance 
IE will of course endeavour to provide further detail.

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