uk Death, bereavement & serious family crises told someone died in custody • death in custody verification • confirm death details uk • prison death phone call • police custody death message • relative died in detention • who to contact after custody death • next of kin not notified • unsure if it is a scam call • custody death confirmation • death following police contact • coroner reference number • procurator fiscal contact • northern ireland coroner • bereavement in prison uk • detained person died • urgent confirmation of death • family liaison officer details • death notification confusion

What to do if…
you are told a relative died while in custody and you do not know who to contact to confirm details

Short answer

Treat the message as unconfirmed until you verify it through official channels. Your immediate goal is to get one official contact name plus a reference/case number from the right authority for where the death happened.

Do not do these things

Don’t send money, bank details, or copies/photos of ID to anyone who contacted you out of the blue.
Don’t rely on social media posts or forwarded messages as “confirmation”.
Don’t agree to an interview, statement, or recorded call if you feel pressured; you can say you need a named contact and a call-back route.
Don’t post details publicly while you’re still verifying identity and next-of-kin status.
Don’t travel long distances based on a single unverified call/text unless you’ve confirmed the facility and a named point of contact via an official main number.

What to do now

Pause and write down what you have.
Record: the caller’s name, role, organisation, phone number, date/time, where they say the death happened, and any reference number (custody record/prison number/incident number).
Assume it could be misinformation or a scam until you verify it.
Do not call back the incoming number. Use only an organisation’s main published switchboard number.
Identify which system it likely was (police, prison, or immigration detention).
If you’re unsure, start with the police force for the area where your relative was last known to be and ask them to confirm which agency had custody.
Contact the place/agency that had custody using its main published number. Ask for the right role.
Use simple wording:
“I received information that [full name, date of birth] may have died while in your custody. I need to confirm whether this is true and who the official next-of-kin contact is.”
Ask for: (a) the reference number, (b) the name/role of the person assigned to speak with family, (c) the next step for formal notification/identification in your area.
- Police custody / following police contact: ask for the custody duty officer or Family Liaison Officer (FLO) route (if an FLO is appointed).
- Prison: ask for the duty governor or family/bereavement liaison contact.
- Immigration detention: ask for the centre’s bereavement/family liaison contact and the investigation/reference details they can share.
Then contact the death-investigation authority for the nation where the death happened (this matters).
- England & Wales: contact the coroner’s office for the area where the death occurred and ask whether they have a case for your relative (name + DOB), and for the coroner’s reference number and the best contact route for next of kin.
- Scotland: contact the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) death investigation contact for the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU) hub covering the area, and ask for the reference/contact for the investigation.
- Northern Ireland: contact the Coroners Service for Northern Ireland (or relevant coroner contact route) and ask how next of kin should be updated and what reference details they can confirm.
If police contact is involved in England & Wales, confirm the IOPC referral and get the IOPC contact.
Ask the police force to confirm that the death was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) (as required for deaths during/following police contact in England & Wales) and to provide the IOPC reference/contact route you should use.
If a prison/immigration detention setting is involved, ask about the PPO investigation and family liaison.
Ask the place of detention to confirm that the death has been referred to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) (which investigates deaths in custody it covers) and how you will be kept updated (family liaison contact, expected communications, reference number).
Confirm and correct “next of kin” details immediately.
Say clearly: your relationship, that you may be next of kin, and your correct phone/email/postal address. Ask them to record it and tell you what they can/can’t share right now.
Ask for written confirmation of the official contact and reference numbers.
Request an email/letter with: organisation name, staff member name/role, main switchboard number, and the reference number(s). This reduces confusion and helps protect you from scams.
If you’re overwhelmed, bring a trusted person in as your note-taker.
Put calls on speaker with someone you trust, or ask them to make calls while you sit with them.

What can wait

You do not need to decide today about complaints, legal action, media, or campaigning.
You do not need a full explanation immediately; early information is often limited and later corrected.
You do not need to make funeral decisions until you know who has authority for release and what the relevant process is in that nation.

Important reassurance

Shock can make it hard to think, remember names, or ask questions. For now, it’s enough to confirm the facts through official numbers and get one reliable contact person plus a reference number.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance for confirming a reported death in custody and finding the correct official contacts. Later steps (inquest/FAI participation, formal complaints, representation, and support) may need specialist advice and advocacy.

Important note

This guide provides general information and practical first actions, not legal advice. Processes vary across the UK and by agency. If you cannot confirm something directly, treat it as uncertain and focus on getting an official point of contact and a reference/case number.

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What to do if…you are told a relative died while in custody and you do not know who to contact to confirm details