Rickwood family still waiting for answers

The family of a 14-year-old who died in custody 12 months ago is
still waiting for a formal explanation about his death.

Adam Rickwood became the youngest boy in UK penal history to die in
custody when he was found dead last August at the Hassockfield
Secure Training Centre in County Durham.

Although his death raised questions about the care of mentally
vulnerable young offenders, penal reform group Inquest said
Adam’s mother, Carol Pounder, had “heard nothing”
from the organisations investigating the case.

The delays stem from the need to dovetail a number of inquiries. A
serious incident review has been concluded by the Youth Justice
Board and delivered to Lancashire social services, which is
incorporating it into its local area child protection review.

The YJB said it could not finalise the serious incident review
until an inquest had taken place, but this will not happen until an
investigation by the police and the prisons and probation ombudsman
is completed. Durham coroner’s office said an inquest date
had yet to be fixed.