2008 Agenda
The Forum will meet in February, June, October and December 2008
February
February's meeting continued the Forum's focus on the issue of investigating 'near-deaths' in a human rights-compatible way; discussed the Chair's draft response to the proposals to amend Rule 43 of the Coroners Rules 1984 to widen Coroners' powers to make recommendations to prevent future deaths, and considered the Learning the Lessons Committee's 3rd Learning the Lessons Bulletin, which looks at police custody issues. We also discussed the proposals on the future of the Forum set out in Robert Fulton's Review of the Forum.
View the minutes of the February 2008 Forum meeting
The Forum also considered the following papers:
The secretary's update
Forum paper on Art.2-compliant investigation of near-deaths
Chair's *draft* response to MoJ consultation re: Rule 43
June
June's meeting discussed the progress of the Fulton proposals, a number of recent cases of note, the IPCC's Near-Deaths research, and some of the cases which featured in the latest Learning the Lessons Bulletin. We were also pleased to welcome the British Medical Association to discuss their concerns relating to Operation Safeguard, and the Prison Advice and Care Trust ('pact') gave a presentation on the 'first night' service they provide for new arrivals in a number of prisons. We also discussed the availability of public funding for bereaved families to be legally represented at inquests, and the means-testing which applies to the provision of funding.
View the minutes of the June 2008 Forum meeting
The Forum also considered the following papers:
The secretary's update
The Government's response to 'rule 43' recommendations re: Gareth Myatt and Adam Rickwood
British Medical Association background briefing
BMA Press Release Crisis in the Cells
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) background briefing
Secretary's note: the availability of public funding for legal representation at inquests
October
October's meeting considered the progress of the establishment of the new Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody, what the Independent Advisory Panel's research arrangements should be, the Forum's research into whether or not the investigation of a custody death would always comply with the requirements of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to life), and the pilot study into the Prisoner Escort Record ('PER') form currently underway.
Minutes of the meeting will be available to view once approved following the next meeting.
The Forum also considered the following papers:
The secretary's update
Correspondence between the Chair and the Justice Minister regarding research arrangements
Secretary's note re: other organisations' approaches to research
Forum paper re: Article 2-compliant investigations [NOTE: this is still in draft form and will not be published until finalised]
Prisoner Escort Record Pilot Study paper