Ombudsman Annual Report 2018-2019

4 Ombudsman Sixth Annual Report 2018 - 2019 It is with great pleasure that I bring you our sixth Annual Report covering the period 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2019. 7KLV \HDU WKH 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH UHFHLYHG FRPSODLQWV 7KLV LV WKH ÀIWK FRQVHFXWLYH \HDU WKDW WKH 2IÀFH KDV UHFHLYHG RYHU FRPSODLQWV DQG assistance requests. We hope and believe that this UHÁHFWV RXU VHUYLFH XVHUV· FRQÀGHQFH LQ RXU LPSDUWLDOLW\ professionalism and commitment to justice. As in SUHYLRXV \HDUV DOO DJH JURXSV DQG ERWK JHQGHUV DUH ZHOO UHSUHVHQWHG LQ RXU FRPSODLQDQW SURÀOH DQG of all individual complainants chose to register their FRPSODLQWV E\ YLVLWLQJ RXU RIÀFH In accordance with its Decree Concerning the ,QGHSHQGHQW 2PEXGVPDQ IRU WKH 0LQLVWU\ RI ,QWHULRU WKH 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH KDV WKH DXWKRULW\ DIWHU DQ HDUO\ LQYHVWLJDWLRQ WR IRUZDUG FRPSODLQWV WR UHOHYDQW ERGLHV VXFK DV WKH 3XEOLF 3URVHFXWLRQ WKH 6SHFLDO ,QYHVWLJDWLRQ 8QLW 6,8 RU WKH 6HFXULW\ 3URVHFXWLRQ in any circumstances where it appears that a criminal SURVHFXWLRQ PD\ EH MXVWLÀHG :KHUH UHIHUUDOV DUH PDGH all relevant information and documents concerning the complaint and Ombudsman investigation are sent to the UHOHYDQW ERG\ DQG WKH FRPSODLQDQW LV DOZD\V QRWLÀHG RI the decision to refer. I would like to take the opportunity this year to say VRPHWKLQJ DERXW RQH RI WKH 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH·V services which is the assistance requests received by WKH 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH RYHU WKH ODVW VL[ \HDUV Assistance Requests refer to the many cases where inmates or their families have questions or are H[SHULHQFLQJ GLIÀFXOWLHV 7KLV PLJKW IRU H[DPSOH EH D UHTXHVW WR FRQWLQXH DFDGHPLF HGXFDWLRQ WDNH VFKRRO H[DPLQDWLRQV UHTXHVWV UHODWHG WR PHGLFDO LVVXHV KDYH H[FHSWLRQDO IDPLO\ FRQWDFW RU DFFHVV VSHFLDO services related to disability or facilities. Because these complainants do not allege misconduct or FULPLQDO EHKDYLRXU E\ 0LQLVWU\ RI ,QWHULRU SHUVRQQHO WKH 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH FODVVLÀHV WKHP DV DVVLVWDQFH UHTXHVWV $VVLVWDQFH UHTXHVWV PD\ RI FRXUVH subsequently be found to involve acts of misconduct RU FULPLQDOLW\ LQ ZKLFK FDVH WKH\ ZLOO EH UH GHVLJQDWHG 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ RI DVVLVWDQFH requests and related recommendations helps to ensure WKDW LQGLYLGXDO GLIÀFXOWLHV DUH DGGUHVVHG WKDW WKH OHWWHU and spirit of the Regulations are implemented and that learning opportunities for service improvements DUH VKDUHG IRU WKH EHQHÀW RI DOO )RU WKLV UHDVRQ ZH ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR GHYRWH VLJQLÀFDQW UHVRXUFHV WR WKH investigation of assistance requests. 6DGO\ WKLV \HDU HLJKW IDPLOLHV H[SHULHQFHG WKH KHDUWDFKH of losing a loved one in detention. The Ombudsman 2IÀFH·V LQYHVWLJDWLRQ RI DOO GHDWKV LQ GHWHQWLRQ KHOSV WR HQVXUH WKDW ZKHUH UHOHYDQW LPSRUWDQW OHVVRQV FDQ be learned that might help to prevent future avoidable deaths. We take this important responsibility very seriously and make recommendations wherever these can make a difference. As part of our commitment to the continuous development of our service and in terms of the FRRSHUDWLRQ ZLWK 8. *RYHUQPHQW WKH 2PEXGVPDQ 2IÀFH FDUULHG RXW DQ LQGHSHQGHQW UHYLHZ RI WKH 2IÀFH 0DQDJHPHQW ,QIRUPDWLRQ 6\VWHP IRU LPSURYLQJ WKH FDSDFLW\ DQG DFFXUDF\ RI WKH V\VWHPE\ D KLJKO\ TXDOLÀHG experts designated by the UK Government Partnership -VYL^VYK I` [OL 6TI\KZTHU