Probation death upsets ombudsman

The case of a young man who died from a drug overdose in a deserted
railway station was highlighted by the prison and probation
ombudsman this week as the “most upsetting” he had reviewed.

In his report for 2004-5, ombudsman Stephen Shaw said the man had
been supervised by the probation services on a drug treatment and
testing order.

The Home Office said the details of the case were
confidential.

The report said 224 investigations into fatal incidents in the
prison and probation services were started last year, a number
which was “higher than anticipated”, including the deaths of young
offenders Adam Rickwood, 14, and 15-year-old Gareth Myatt, and six
deaths in the immigration service.

Shaw raised particular concern about the 99 deaths from natural
causes among older prisoners, and said the cases “raised questions”
about the quality of health care they had received.

The report also said 4,385 prisoner complaints were received in
2004-5, up 15 per cent on the previous year.

• Ombudsman’s report is available at www.ppo.gov.uk/annureps.htm