Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2024

Daniel Beckford

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2024-0607, written 11 Jun 2024. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report11 Jun 2024
Reference2024-0607
DeceasedDaniel Beckford
CoronerPriya Malhotra
Coroner areaLondon Inner (West)
CategoryState Custody related deaths · Suicide (from 2015)
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 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.  HMPPS 
2.  HMP Wandsworth 

1 

CORONER 

I am Priya Malhotra, Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of Inner West London. 

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.  It  is 
important  to  note  the  case  of R  (Dr  Siddiqui  and  Dr  Paeprer-Rohricht)  v  Assistant 
Coroner for East London; which clarifies that the issuing and receipt of a Regulation 28 
report  entails  no  more  than  the  coroner  bringing  some  information  regarding  a  public 
safety concern to the attention of the recipient. The report is not punitive in nature and 
engages no civil or criminal right or obligation on the part of the recipient, other than the 
obligation to respond to the report in writing within 56 days. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

The inquest was opened on 13 July 2021 and concluded at the end of the inquest on 25 
April 2024. The conclusion of the jury was a narrative conclusion: “suicide. Based on the 
evidence,  the  following  possibly  made  a  material  contribution  to  his  death;  failure  to 
comply  with  the  prison  service  instruction  to  facilitate  a  phone  call  within  the  first  24 
hours; insufficient support to secure a PIN.” 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Daniel Beckford was detained at HMP Wandsworth. He died on 23 June 2023 aged 39 
years. His death was confirmed at St George’s Hospital, Tooting Road, London.  

The  family  requested  the  deceased  is  referred  to  as  Daniel.  I  will  reflect  this  in  this 
report.  

On  14  June  2021,  Daniel  was  remanded  to  HMP  Wandsworth.  He  had  a  history  of 
substance  misuse,  depression  and  self-harm,  which  was  known.  On  16  June  2021 
Daniel  took  an  overdose  of  his  prescribed  antibiotic  medication.  On  17  June  2021,  he 
was found hanging in his cell. At the time of his death, Daniel was  being monitored via 
Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT). He was transferred via LAS to St 
George’s  Hospital  and  admitted  to  the  General  Intensive  Care  Unit  (GICU).  He  was 
declared deceased on 23 June 2021. The medical cause of death was: 

1a. Hypoxic ischemic brain injury;  
1b. Asphyxia; 
1c. Ligature compression of the neck; and  
 II   Coronary artery atheroma  

The  jury’s  findings  recorded  in  the  Record  of  Inquest  included  that  there  was 
“insufficient, regular Basic Life Support training, which resulted in Daniel being placed in 
the recovery position before CPR (chest compressions) commenced.”  

5 

CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed a matter giving rise to concern. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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 as follows:  

(1)  The  provision  and  content  of  first  aid  training.  The  evidence  of  witnesses 
revealed  an  absence  of  clarity  in  the  first  aid  training  to  prison  officers  on  the  use  of 
rescue  breaths  during  resuscitation  attempts,  as  per  current  advice 
the 
Resuscitation Council UK.   

from 

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 7 August 2024. 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,  NUCO  Training  and  to  Daniel’s 
family. 

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  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. 

9 

Priya Malhotra 
Assistant Coroner Inner West London 
11 June 2024                                              

2

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