Publications

A review of 26 mental health homicides in London committed between January 2002 and December 2006

NHS London carried out an audit of the reports of internal investigations into mental health homicide cases it inherited from the five former London SHAs.

The audit found 26 cases where a mental health patient had been convicted of homicide which had not been subject to independent investigation as required under the terms of the HSG (94)27. These homicides took place between January 2002 and December 2006.

We were asked to examine the internal investigation reports and other available material for each case in order to recommend whether any further work is necessary and, if so, what type of independent investigation is most appropriate bearing in mind the seriousness and complexity of individual cases. We were also asked to identify any common themes arising from the internal investigation reports.

The underlying purpose of the review was to provide NHS London with clear recommendations about what action it needs to take to learn the lessons from these cases and ensure that they are used to improve mental health services across London.

Published March 2008