Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 25 May 2011.

Prisons: Deaths in Custody

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on the death of Mr Christopher Wardally in Wandsworth Prison on 12 June 2009; and why that report has not been published.

Answer: The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has finalised its report into the death of Mr Wardally and, in line with its usual practice, has issued the report to interested persons. This will normally include the deceased's family, the services in remit, the primary care trust and the coroner. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) responded to the PPO's report and recommendations, at the draft report stage. These comments, where relevant, have been incorporated by the PPO into the final report. Deaths in custody require a jury inquest and, to avoid hindering the coroner or potentially prejudicing a jury, the PPO does not publish its reports until the inquest has concluded. The report is then published in an anonymised form on the PPO's website. The PPO has indicated that it will publish its report into the death of Mr Wardally, in this way, following the conclusion of the inquest into his death.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 9289; 727 c441-2WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Death Prisoners HMP Wandsworth Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Wardally, Christopher
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk