Safer custody in the South Atlantic Ocean

An inquest into the death of a young man some weeks after release from police custody on St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean, has recently concluded.

Instructed by the Chambers of the Attorney General for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Nick Stanage advised and represented the Royal St Helena Police Service at the ten-day inquest.

Following extensive legal argument, the Chief Coroner agreed that no police officer or employee had caused or contributed to the death. He also declined to make a 'preventing future deaths' report in respect of the police service because of evidence of action taken to deliver training on, and enhance, safer custody procedures for those at risk of suicide or self harm.

The issues in the case included the interplay between the Constitution of St Helena, English law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Nick Stanage has been an assistant coroner for 15 years and has been instructed in various countries to advise and train police services on safer custody and suicide prevention procedures. He is enrolled as an advocate of the St Helena Supreme Court.