Article 2 Compliant Investigation

Article 2 compliant investigation into the care and treatment of SP whilst in Prison Service custody 2003-2005

Read the Article 2 Press release

Forum for Preventing Deaths In Custody

Read the Annual report 2006-2007

Annual Report

PPO Publishes its Annual report for 2006-2007 today. Read the Report

Press Notice

Public investigation into 2001 attempted suicide at Pentonville Prison

Read the Press Notice (file size 58 Kb)

Family Liaison - Principles and Purpose

Read the principles and purpose behind Family Liaison (file size 49 Kb)

Persistent and abusive complainants policy

PPO has now published its policy for dealing with persistent and abusive callers.

Read the persistent and abusive complainants policy (file size 36 Kb)

Immigration complaints leaflet

Immigration detainees can now complain to the Ombudsman once they have exhausted the internal complaints procedure. The Ombudsman will not be able to investigate complaints about decisions made under the Immigration Act but will be able to investigate complaints about aspects of a detainee's treatment.

Read the immigration complaints leaflet (file size 195 Kb)

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is a member of new Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody

Read forum launch press release (file size 185 Kb)

Memorandum of understanding

Memorandum between Association of Chief Police Officers and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman: Fatal Incident Inquiries (file size 185 Kb)

Mistreatment of detainees report

Inquiry into allegations of racism and mistreatment of detainees at Oakington immigration reception centre and while under escort (file size 546 Kb)

Yarl’s Wood – Stephen Shaw Recommendations October 2004 (file size 202 Kb)

New Fatal Incident Investigation Report page

You can now view the reports which we publish following a Fatal Incident Investigation. View Fatal Incident Investigation Reports.

Disclosure Guidance for Fatal Incident Investigations

Yarl's Wood Inquiry Reports

The Report of the inquiry and fire at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre was published on 16 November 2004. View the report (file size 1 Mb).

The Report of the inquiry into allegations in the Daily Mirror of racism and abuse at Yarl's Wood removal centre was published in March 2004. Download the report .

Fatal Incidents Investigation

From 1 April 2004, all deaths in prisons and deaths of residents of Approved Accomodation (probation hostels) and immigration detention accommodation have been investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Additionally the Ombudsman has the discretion to investigate, to the extent appropriate, cases that raise issues about the care provided by a prison. In welcoming the extended role of the office, Stephen Shaw said:

"In taking on the daunting responsibility of investigating deaths in custody, I have three main aims. First, to enhance public confidence when someone has died while in the hands of the state. Second, to involve and to provide answers for bereaved relatives. Third, to contribute to the efforts of the Prison Service and others to reduce the numbers of self-inflicted and other avoidable deaths."

A Guide to the Prisons and probation Ombudsman's investigation of fatal incidents (pdf file size 157 KB)

Other reports

On the Case: Resolving Complaints in the most appropriate way (pdf file size 926 KB)