The prevention of deaths in police cells
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Authors
Makgopa, Lazarus
Issue Date
2014-06
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Causes of deaths , Custody officers , Deaths in police cells , Detention facilities , Docket analysis , Investigation of deaths , Ligatures , Persons in police cells , Police cells , Police officials , Post mortem , Prevention of deaths
Alternative Title
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.
Description
Citation
Makgopa, Lazarus (2014) The prevention of deaths in police cells, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13788>