Gavin Wheale

I am Ian Dreelan, Assistant Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull

On 15 August 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Gavin James WHEALE. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest. The conclusion of the inquest was; It is the unanimous opinion of the Jury that Mr Wheale did die due to mixed drug interactions  additionally, the events examined in this inquest highlight shortcomings in the following areas at the time of Mr Wheale’s death:

1. The training of custodial and medical staff at HMP Birmingham in the implementation of policies

and procedures designed to facilitate the arrival, processing and housing of prisoners considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable. This had no impact on Mr Wheale’s death.

1. The lines of communication across custodial staff at HMP Birmingham concerning the effective transfer of information pertinent to the health and wellbeing of incoming prisoners This had no  impact on Mr Wheale’s death.
2. The Lines of communication between medical and custodial staff at HMP Birmingham  concerning the effective transfer of information pertinent to the health and wellbeing of incoming prisoners. This had no impact on Mr Wheale’s death.
3. The facilities and resources in the reception area at HMP Birmingham pertaining to custodial  staff’s ability to monitor and supervise incoming prisoners, particularly those considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable. This had no impact on Mr Wheale’s death.

Conclusion of the Jury as to the death: Drug Related.

On 6/8/24, Gavin James Wheale was arrested on a recall to prison. He remained under constant  supervision and handcuffed as he was suspected to be concealing an item. He was then  transported by GeoAmey on 7/8/24 to HMP Birmingham. At 12.45, Mr Wheale was handed to HMP staff, where he was no longer handcuffed or under constant supervision. Mr Wheale provided a  urine sample that tested positive for cocaine, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids and opiates. He  began the body scanner process at 16.00 on 7/8/24, which came back as inconclusive. A short time later, Mr Wheale was seen waving a plastic bag in the air, which was empty, but said it had  contained Diazepam, and he had taken it. He was then placed in a holding cell in the Care and  Separation Unit (CSU). At 14.26 on 8/824, Mr Wheale was found unresponsive in his CSU cell. He  was pronounced dead at 14.39. Following a post mortem, the medical cause of death was determined to be: 1a Mixed drug interactions (Morphine, Cocaine and Diazepam) 1b 1c 1d II

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my  opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. –

1. At the time Mr Wheale resided in HMP Birmingham, HMP Birmingham Secreted Item Policy (January 2020) was in force. An updated policy was issued after Mr  Wheale’s death (dated Aug 2024). Both versions of the policy accept that ‘There is a clear risk to a prisoner’s health when an item is secreted internally’. My concern is  that focus of the policy is the prevention of contraband entering the prison system  and therefore it presupposes the outcome of the secreted item(s) being surrendered or disposed of by the prisoner. It does not provide clear guidance to staff on a  situation, as with Mr Wheale, where an item previously concealed is then claimed to have been (or indeed a situation where it was witnessed to have been) removed and ingested without its previous packaging.
2. Evidence was heard from WMP and GEOAmey staff dealing with their required  procedures where a person in their custody, in this instance Mr Wheale, was known or suspected of concealing items; both organisations required constant supervision  and handcuffing. My concern is that upon handover to HMP Birmingham prisoners  who have previously been under constant supervision, with their movement  restricted, enter a regime with no equivalent levels of monitoring rendering HMP  Birmingham unable to fully discharge their duty of care to that prisoner.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe you have the power to take such action.