Between 500 and 600 people die every year in state custody in
They cover deaths in prisons, police cells, secure hospitals and other establishments and include those from natural causes, suicides and murders. The forum was established to help cut deaths in custody - but campaigners say it is toothless and lacks resources.
The report is the first time figures from across the criminal justice system have been brought together for a complete look at deaths in state custody.
Toothless
The aim of the forum is to spread best practice and information on preventing custody deaths. But the campaign group INQUEST described the forum as "toothless" because it had no formal powers and lacked resources.
The forum was established after the Joint Committee on Human Rights called for the Home Office and Department for Health to set up a multi-agency body to monitor deaths in any form of state custody, including mental hospitals.
The forum is chaired by John Wadham, the legal head of the incoming Commission for Equality and Human Rights and formerly deputy chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Other members include representatives from the police, Prison Service and Youth Justice Board. The forum has no funding of its own - but says it wants to bring about improvements through its standing and credibility among criminal justice professionals.
Social dustbins
Pauline Campbell, whose daughter Sarah died in custody, told BBC News that improvements were essential. She said: "I think prisons are overwhelmed. They're being used as social dustbins for people who are mentally ill, drug and alcohol dependents, the homeless and so on.
"And given that we have such a high proportion of prisoners who have psychiatric difficulties, it is inevitable that these tragic deaths will occur unless action is taken to prevent this happening."
Other Articles
Prison facts & figures
Joint Committee on Human Rights (report)
Deaths in custody stats from the IPCC
