The prevention of deaths in police cells

Abstract

The research question of this study is to determine what circumstances and conditions contribute to deaths in police cells. The study was undertaken in order to establish the causes of deaths in police cells and the factors which contribute thereto, as well as to determine the best international practices to prevent deaths in police cells. The literature was reviewed in order to establish the extent to which this phenomenon has been researched in South Africa and in other countries and to determine the regulatory framework related thereto. The researcher had collected data from the dockets relating to deaths in police cells which were kept at the IPID provincial offices in Gauteng and Limpopo. The data were collected by using the docket analysis schedule and were categorised into themes during the analysis process. Four cause of deaths in police cells were identified, namely, suicide, natural causes, assault by fellow detainees and injuries which were sustained prior to detention. Suicide is the leading cause of deaths. The second leading causes of deaths in police cells are natural causes and assault by fellow detainees. Deaths as a result of injuries sustained prior to detention came third. The most common ligatures which were used to commit suicide are shoe-laces, belts and strips torn from clothing and bedding items. The preferred ligature points are the burglar proof bars on cell windows. Booted feet and hands were the most common instruments used to inflict fatal injuries on the detainees. It was also found that police officials are generally not complying fully with the standing orders which regulate the management of people who are detained in police cells. The failure of police officials to comply fully with the standing orders on custody in police cells contributed to the deaths of detainees in police cells. Recommendations are made to prevent the deaths of detainees in police cells.