Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Lewis Powter

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0223, written 21 Jul 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report21 Jul 2022
Reference2022-0223
DeceasedLewis Powter
CoronerLorna Skinner
Coroner areaCambridgeshire and Peterborough
CategoryAlcohol, drug and medication related deaths · Mental Health related deaths
Organisation namedCambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

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

Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

NOTE:  This form is to be used after an inquest. 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1  Ministry of Justice 
2  NHS England 

1  CORONER 

I am Miss Lorna Skinner QC, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of Cambridgeshire and 
Peterborough 

2  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. 
Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (legislation.gov.uk) 
The Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 (legislation.gov.uk) 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 21 May 2020 I commenced an investigation into the death of Lewis Martyn POWTER, 
who died on 10 May 2020 aged 36 years.  The investigation concluded at the end of the 
inquest on 19 July 2022. 

Medical Cause of Death – 

 overdose 

Conclusion –  Drug related. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Mr  Powter  was  an  IPP  offender  who  had  been  diagnosed  with  emotionally  unstable 
personality  disorder  and  had  been  addicted  to  drugs  for  over  10  years.  When  in  the 
community,  he,  in  common  with  a  number  of  IPP  offenders,  suffered  from  continued 
anxiety over the issue of potential recall. 

On  release  in  November  2019,  Mr  Powter  was  put  on  the  Offender  Personality  Disorder 
(OPD)  pathway  - a  community  based  service  which  is  part  of  a  joint  national  strategy 
shared  between  probation  and  health  service  providers  which  have  access  to  a  shared 
computer log system, nDelius, for these purposes. 

As  a  result  of  his  substance  misuse  issues,  Mr  Powter  was  also  under  the  care  of  Change 
Grow Live (“CGL”), a charitable organisation, and was prescribed Subutex. As a third sector 
organisation, CGL did not have access to nDelius. 

A  multi-agency  meeting  in  respect  of  Mr  Powter  took  place  between  the  local  NHS  Trust, 
probation and CGL in January 2020. There was no further such meeting about him, despite 
his  ongoing  vulnerabilities  as  described  above  and:  (a)  the  potential  impact  of  lockdown 
upon him; and (b) the fact that he reported that he had stopped taking his prescription for 
subutex and was abstaining from drugs. 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 Having abstained from drug-taking for over a month, with the result that he had a reduced 
tolerance level, Mr Powter died of a self-administered 
overdose on 10 May 2020. At 
that  time,  he  was  experiencing  increased  anxiety  because,  as  an  IPP  liable  to  recall  to 
prison at any time he had, on 4 May 2020, been identified to the police as the perpetrator 
of an assault and was informed that he would be facing court proceedings in relation to it. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

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

The  MATTERS  OF  CONCERN  ARE  that,  where  an  IPP  offender  with  complex  needs  is 
released  and  is  not  subject  to  MAPPA,  but  is  subject  to  multi-agency  intervention  co-
ordinated  by  the  National  Probation  Service,  there  is  no  policy/procedure/guidance 
encouraging  consideration  to  be  given  to  the  issues  of  whether  and  when  to  hold  multi-
agency meetings for the purposes of sharing information about the offender. The need for 
consideration  to  be  given  to  holding  such  meetings  is  particularly  acute  where  one  of  the 
organisations responsible for delivering care/treatment does not have access to the shared 
record system used by the other two parties. 

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. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You  are  under  a  duty  to  respond  to  this  report  within  56  days  of  the  date  of  this  report, 
namely by 15 September 2022 I, 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. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I  have  sent  a  copy  of  my  report  to  the  Chief  Coroner  and  to  the  following  Interested 
Persons: 

(1) The family of Lewis Powter
(2) Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
(3) Change Grow Live

I am under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all Interested 
Persons who in my opinion should receive it. 

I  may  also  send  a  copy  of  your  response  to  any  other  person  who  I  believe  may  find  it 
useful or of interest. 

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. 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 You may make representations to me, the Coroner, at the time of your response, about the 
release or the publication of your response. 

9  Dated: 21/07/2022 

Lorna SKINNER QC 
Assistant Coroner for 
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021

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