Homicide

The following documents remain current until further notice:

• ACPO (2014) A Guide to Investigating Child Deaths
• NPCC (2023) National Threats to Life Guidelines – this document is available to authorised users who are logged on to College Learn.
• ACPO (2012) Guidelines on Dealing with Cases of Encouraging or Assisted Suicide – this document has now been superseded. The current guidance can be found in the mental health APP, suicide pacts or assisted suicide
• CFOA, ACPO, CPS, HSE (2014) Investigative Guidance: Firefighter Fatality in the Workplace
• Chief Coroner’s Office Guidance: Post mortem examinations including second post mortem examinations
• Chief Coroner’s Office Guidance: Suspension, adjournment, resumption of investigations and inquests
• College of Policing (2021) Charter for families bereaved through public tragedy
• CPS (2017) Meeting following acquittal or conviction on a less serious charge – Post Acquittal Meetings
• Home Office (2024) Practice advice: The medical investigation of suspected homicide
• HSE (2015) Work-related Deaths Protocol: Practical Guide (England and Wales)
• NPCC (2021) Major Crime Investigation Manual (MCIM)
• NPCC (2015) SIO Guide – Investigating Deaths and Serious Harm in Healthcare Settings
• RCPCH (2016) Sudden Unexplained death in infancy and childhood: Multi-agency guidelines for care and investigation

See further HSE work-related deaths resources.

Investigating deaths in prisons

A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed between NPCC and the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman (PPO).

• ACPO/PPO (2014) Memorandum of Understanding between the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Prison and Probation Ombudsman.

The MoU confirms police SIO primacy in all death investigations but confirms that there is a requirement to collaborate and share information with the PPO‘s investigator. The MoU covers the following points:

• the police will approach all deaths in custody as a potential homicide
• a joint strategy meeting between the police, PPO and Coroner must be held for all death in custody investigations. It may also be necessary to involve the CPS in some cases
• the presumption is that all relevant information will be shared between the police and PPO unless there are specific reasons why this cannot happen

The PPO is an arms-length Body attached to the Ministry of Justice. The Ombudsman has jurisdiction to independently investigate the death of anyone in prison custody, immigration detention or who is a resident of an Approved Premise.