A shocking new report has revealed that Drugs Denied to People in Custody essential for conditions such as diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, and mental health disorders. The denial of life-saving drugs is not just a question of medical negligence but is suggested to be a form of punishment, raising serious concerns about the quality of healthcare in police custody suites.
The report, compiled by researchers from Newcastle, Northumbria, and Durham universities, paints a disturbing picture of how vulnerable individuals are treated within the criminal justice system.
The findings have sparked widespread outrage, with experts calling for urgent reform and a shift in how healthcare is provided to those in custody. Deborah Cohen, the chief executive of the charity Inquest, has emphasized the gravity of the situation, warning that the denial of essential medications could lead to severe harm or even death.
Drugs Denied to People in Custody
The report, based on a comprehensive study involving hundreds of hours of police logs and interviews with detainees and staff, reveals that people arrested and held in police custody are being routinely denied access to critical medications.
Among those affected are patients with conditions like diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, arthritis, and PTSD, who require regular prescriptions to manage their health.
In some instances, individuals with diabetes have been deprived of their insulin, while cancer patients have been denied their prescribed treatments. Epileptic individuals have had their seizure medications withheld, putting them at risk of potentially fatal seizures.
The researchers found numerous examples of detainees being told that their medications were either unavailable, too difficult to verify, or simply not allowed unless they met certain stringent conditions, such as being in their original packaging or having been administered by a healthcare professional.
The denial of medications isn’t limited to common prescriptions; it also extends to more specialized treatments like methadone, which some detainees rely on to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Suspects detained by police denied insulin, cancer and epilepsy drugs, report claims https://t.co/oISani4J3v pic.twitter.com/WLUWwajOeq
— The Independent (@Independent) April 20, 2025
One particularly troubling case described in the report involved a detainee who, after being denied methadone, experienced such severe withdrawal symptoms that they confessed to crimes they did not commit in the hope of being transferred to prison, where their prescription would be reinstated.
The Impact of Denial on Detainees
The report highlights how these denials can lead to significant physical and psychological harm. Patients who rely on medications for chronic conditions, including cancer and epilepsy, may face life-threatening consequences when their treatment is interrupted.
In cases of diabetes, for example, skipping insulin injections can lead to dangerous spikes or drops in blood sugar levels, with potentially fatal outcomes. The psychological toll is also significant, as detainees experience extreme distress when their access to essential medications is blocked.
The report reveals that many detainees are left with no recourse to obtain the medications they need, as healthcare provision in police custody is often erratic and inconsistent. Some police forces have outsourced custody healthcare to private companies, which are primarily motivated by cost-cutting measures, rather than a commitment to providing quality care.
This has resulted in a “postcode lottery,” where healthcare standards can vary dramatically depending on where a detainee is held. In some police stations, detainees are denied medication for up to six hours, breaching current guidelines that mandate timely access to healthcare.
The lack of access to healthcare professionals in custody suites exacerbates the problem. The absence of trained medical staff means that detainees cannot always receive the medical attention they need when they experience withdrawal symptoms or medical crises.
This lack of medical supervision is especially concerning in cases where detainees are denied prescribed medications, such as insulin or cancer drugs, leaving them vulnerable to serious health complications.
A Culture of Scepticism and Distrust
One of the most disturbing aspects of the report is the culture of scepticism and distrust among custody staff towards detainees’ medical histories. Many police officers and custody staff are reportedly hesitant to accept detainees’ claims about their medical needs, fearing that individuals might be using the system to obtain drugs or medications illicitly.
This risk-averse culture is particularly prevalent in cases involving mental health or addiction treatments, such as methadone or psychiatric drugs, where there is a concern that detainees are “drug-seeking” or attempting to “top up” their prescription.
This distrust can lead to the outright denial of medications, with detainees sometimes being told that their conditions are not serious enough to warrant treatment. In other cases, detainees may be subjected to humiliating or invasive procedures to prove that their medical claims are legitimate.
The lack of empathy and understanding for detainees’ medical needs further contributes to a system where healthcare is not a priority, and individuals with serious health conditions are left to suffer.
The Call for Change: NHS Oversight
The report has sparked calls for a fundamental shift in how healthcare is provided to detainees in police custody. Deborah Cohen from Inquest has argued that the current system is failing to protect vulnerable individuals and that healthcare in custody should be brought under the remit of the NHS.
Currently, custody healthcare is provided by private contractors, which can result in significant variations in the quality of care depending on the company involved. By bringing healthcare for detainees under NHS control, experts argue, the system would be more accountable, ensuring that detainees receive consistent and high-quality medical care.
NHS oversight would also ensure that healthcare professionals working in custody suites are properly trained and equipped to handle the unique medical needs of detainees, from chronic conditions like diabetes and epilepsy to more complex mental health issues.
Dr. Mwenza Blell, one of the researchers behind the report, has highlighted the importance of ensuring that detainees’ healthcare needs are met in a timely and compassionate manner.
She argues that healthcare professionals in custody suites should not operate in an environment of suspicion and distrust, but should be able to assess detainees’ medical conditions fairly and without bias.
The Role of the Government and Police
The findings of the report have raised serious questions about the responsibility of the government and police forces in ensuring the welfare of detainees. The report has urged ministers to address the systemic failures in the provision of healthcare for those in police custody before the situation leads to “catastrophe.”
Given that some detainees have already experienced severe harm, including death, due to the lack of access to vital medications, the government must act swiftly to prevent further casualties.
In response to the report, the Home Office stated that it was reviewing the findings with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to determine whether any national issues need to be addressed.
However, given the scale of the problem, many are questioning whether this will lead to any meaningful change or whether it will be yet another case of the authorities failing to take appropriate action.
The denial of essential medications to detainees in police custody is not only a violation of basic human rights but a significant public health issue. The findings of the recent report are deeply troubling, shedding light on a system that appears to prioritize cost-cutting over the health and safety of vulnerable individuals.
Whether due to negligence, distrust, or systemic issues, the failure to provide necessary medications to detainees has severe consequences, and urgent reform is needed.
By placing healthcare for detainees under the oversight of the NHS, there is hope that this critical issue can be addressed, ensuring that detainees receive the care they need to manage their conditions and avoid unnecessary suffering.
Until such reforms are made, however, detainees will continue to be at risk, and the criminal justice system will remain complicit in the denial of life-saving medical care.