Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2026
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2026-0094, written 17 Feb 2026. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 17 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2026-0094 |
| Deceased | Benjamin Websdale |
| Coroner | Penelope Schofield |
| Coroner area | West Sussex, Brighton and Hove |
| Category | Suicide (from 2015) |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | 1 |
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 Chief Constable Chair of the National Police Chiefs Council 50 Broadway London SW1H0BL 1 CORONER I , Penelope Schofield, Senior Coroner for the Coroner area of West Sussex and Brighton and Hove 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. 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 17 January 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of Benjamin WEBSDALE (known as Ben) aged 50. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 28 January 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion namely that: Ben died by suicide. Ben’s mental health had first deteriorated following the suicide of a young person whom he had released from custody as the duty Custody Sergeant and Ben’s subsequent attendance as a witness in his inquest proceedings. His mental health suffered further cumulative decline following a separate allegation of police misconduct and his subsequent arrest; the investigation was ongoing at the time of his death. Prior to these incidents, he did not have any mental health history. 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH On 16th January 2025 Ben . Ben was a serving Police officer at the time of his death and was the subject of a police misconduct investigation being investigated by the Independent Office police conduct. Papers having only been served upon him a few days before his death. 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries 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 as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern) 1. Evidence was heard at the Inquest that there is no local or national recording of cases where police officers have died by suicide or who have attempted suicide whilst under police investigation for an offence of Police Misconduct. Without this information the Police service cannot identify if suicide is more prevalent amongst Police Officers and whether additional measures need to be put in place to support officers who are in this postion. 2. Similarly I heard evidence that Police officers are repeatedly exposed to high levels of suicide incidents and trauma yet not all Police forces in England and Wales had implemented the recognised “STEP” campaign (Suicide Trauma Education Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/07/2025 TG Prevention). 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) 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 April 14th, 2026. 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. COPIES and PUBLICATION 8 I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons Sussex Police Independent Office for Police Conduct. I am also 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 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. They may send a copy of this report to any person who they believe 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 Dated: 17/02/2026 Penelope SCHOFIELD Senior Coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/07/2025 TG
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.
HM Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield
West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Coroner’s Service
Parkside Chart Way
Horsham
RH12 1XH
By email
National Police Chiefs’ Council
50 Broadway
London
SW1H 0BL
31st March 2026
Dear Senior Coroner Schofield,
I write on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) in relation to paragraph 7, Schedule 5 of
the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations)
Regulations 2013, in relation to the prevention of future deaths report sent via email to the NPCC dated
17th February 2026.
The notice sets out concerns that arose from the information received during the inquest into the death
of Benjamin Websdale. I am very sorry to read of the circumstances of Benjamin’s death. My
sympathies are with his family, friends and colleagues.
Matters of concern have been highlighted below:
1. Evidence was heard at the Inquest that there is no local or national recording of cases where police
officers have died by suicide or who have attempted suicide whilst under police investigation for an
offence of Police Misconduct. Without this information the Police service cannot identify if suicide is
more prevalent amongst Police Officers and whether additional measures need to be put in place to
support officers who are in this position.
2. Similarly I heard evidence that Police officers are repeatedly exposed to high levels of suicide
incidents and trauma yet not all Police forces in England and Wales had implemented the recognised
“STEP” campaign (Suicide Trauma Education Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated
15/07/2025 TG Prevention).
In relation to the first matter of concern raised, the post suicide data collection, analysis and subsequent
learning has been a long-standing issue for the service. The NPCC has been collating near real time
suspected suicide surveillance data since January 2022. This is facilitated through the NPCC Suicide
Prevention Steering Group and is formulated from data returns provided by police forces in England,
Scotland, and Wales. This data includes Police Officer and Police Staff deaths by suspected suicide
over recent years. Data returns are voluntary and used for intelligence purposes to aid suicide
prevention and shared with Health and suicide prevention partners. The data does not capture
attempted suicides, nor whether serving police personnel were under investigation.
The overall issue of police related suicides will be resolved by a requirement to report a consistent data
set into the Chief Medical Officer for policing. The paper recommending this change was tabled at Chief
Constable’s Council in March 2026, and I am pleased to confirm that this was approved.
In relation to the second matter of concern, exposure to suicide is a common occurrence for police
officers and many police staff, requiring regular, and on occasion, specialist support. The STEP
campaign is supported by the NPCC, but a far more detailed and ambitious national approach is being
developed, which all forces are involved in. The Trauma Support Model adopts a more holistic view of
trauma and brings together a range of activities and interventions such as trauma tracking using
incident data, annual psychological assessments and mandatory trauma prevention and suicide
prevention training for new recruits and supervisors.
Oscar Kilo (The national police wellbeing service) sits with the College of Policing and works closely
with the NPCC, HMICFRS and the Home Office to support the delivery of national strategies to meet
obligations under the Police Covenant and to meet workforce wellbeing responsibilities. Oscar Kilo
published the National Suicide Action Plan for Policing in July 2024 endorsed by NPCC, Police
Federation, Police Superintendents Association and Unison and incorporating a 24/7 mental health
crisis line for police officers and staff across England and Wales. The plan recognise that suicide in
policing is an issue that deserves attention, and that more needs to be done to support police forces in
reducing suicides.
In the Police Reform white paper there is a recommendation to increase annual mental health
assessments from 50,000 per annum to 150,000 and also a national standard for welfare support in
relation to staff under investigation. Again, I fully support these recommendations and will work closely
with Chief Constables and the College of Policing to deliver them.
I hope the information provided will go some way to address your concerns. Please do not hesitate to
contact me if you require further action or information in relation to my response.
Yours sincerely,
Chair
National Police Chiefs’ Council
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