Recurance · prevention of future deaths reports
Pre-inquest brief
Welfare checks missed and undocumented
The earlier warning
Douglas Birch · 13 Jul 2015 · Patricia Harding, Mid Kent and Medway
“Prison officers were either not aware of PSI 75/2011 requiring that officers should elicit a response from the prisoner upon unlocking a cell or were aware but did not act in accordance with the order especially where they assumed the prisoner was asleep”
judiciary.uk/prevention-of-future-death-reports/douglas-birch
What was promised
Stated action 1 · response to Douglas Birch (13 Jul 2015) · stated timescale: 10 August 2015
“issued at HMP Swaleside on 10 August 2015. It sets out the local procedure for ensuring compliance with the mandatory requirement in PSI 75/2011 to which you refer, and requires staff and a supervising officer to sign to confirm that the welfare checks have taken place on each occasion.”
Stated action 2 · response to Idris Habib (24 Jan 2022) · stated timescale: approximately 8am
“HMP Swaleside has introduced a welfare check that staff conduct at approximately 8am. Staff must open the cell door and ensure they gain a verbal response from the occupant so they can assure themselves of the prisoner's wellbeing. The completion of the check must be recorded in the wing assurance book.”
What recurred
- 24 Jan 2022 · Idris Habib · Patricia Harding
- 8 Aug 2024 · Sean Davies · Patricia Harding · Closely related · confidence 0.92 (high)
The clearest link, quoted from both reports:
Earlier · Douglas Birch · 13 Jul 2015
“Prison officers were either not aware of PSI 75/2011 requiring that officers should elicit a response from the prisoner upon unlocking a cell or were aware but did not act in accordance with the order especially where they assumed the prisoner was asleep”
Later · Sean Davies · 8 Aug 2024
“It was clear from CCTV evidence that prison officers and operational support group officers were not conducting roll call welfare checks and other welfare checks in line with national guidance or local policies”
What happened next
No web check of the stated actions has been published for this chain.