2025 has been another incredibly busy year for INQUEST, with both achievements and setbacks along the way. While we are proud of the progress we’ve made in policy, casework and our collaborative work with bereaved families, the need for our work remains pressing as we approach 2026.
With rising racism, authoritarianism, and threats to human rights here at home and around the world, defending every person’s right to life and justice has never been more vital, as is the need for solidarity and resistance. We are deeply grateful to all who have stood with us, from families and campaigners to lawyers, journalists and supporters.
We know this time of year is especially hard for many, particularly those grieving a loved one. Our thoughts are with you, and we hope you find rest, care and support over the festive period.
With thanks, Deborah Coles, Director at INQUEST
Preventable: last chance to see BEZNA Theatre's exhibition in Hammersmith!
Come and see Preventable - an art installation created by BÈZNĂ Theatre in response to the INQUEST archive. This immersive, walk-through installation traces the history of state-related deaths - stories of loss, resistance, and the long pursuit of justice.
We are so moved by visitors who have described how impactful, informative and emotional it is to walkthrough this unique installation.
Preventable is open until today, 17 December 6pm at SCRUM Studio Warehouse, 191 Talgarth Road, Hammersmith, W6 8BJ.
PRISONS: Built to Harm: How women's prisons take lives
Our new report Built to Harm: how women's prisons take lives, exposes how if the government had listened to calls from campaigners and years of evidence to end the imprisonment of women, the women who died in prison could still be alive today.
In the last decade, 97 people have died in women’s prisons in England and Wales.
As our director Deborah Coles warned in the Guardian, “More deaths will follow unless the government radically changes direction… Now is the time for political bravery and steps towards ending women’s imprisonment.”
It isn't just women's prisons that are built to harm.
Speaking after the inquest, Sundeep's mother said: ‘To think of the pain and suffering Sundeep had to go through makes me very upset. I do not want anyone else to go through the pain and loss that I have had.'
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged a Leeds prison custody manager, nurse and healthcare staff with misconduct in public office and neglect in connection with the death of Chris Pearson, who died following restraint in 2021.
POLICE: Coroner "shocked" by firearms officers' evidence at inquest
Promising that an ambulance would be waiting for him outside his house, he was instead met by armed officers.
Despite an inquest jury finding that Giedrius was lawfully killed, the coroner was "shocked" by the quality of the officers' evidence and found serious failures in their communication with Giedrius.
Austeja, Giedrius' daughter said: "We have always maintained that my dad never meant anyone any harm on the night he was killed. His actions were simply a cry for help. He had co-operated with what the police wanted him to do, but he was tricked into thinking they would be getting him help."
The fatal consequences of police responding to people in mental health crisis is nothing new. In 1999, Roger Sylvester died aged 30 after being restrained by eight police officers whilst in a mental health crisis.
INQUEST supported Roger's family following his death. His brother Bernard Renwick recently gave evidence to the Undercover Policing Inquiry and spoke about the police racism that led to his brothers death: ‘rather than recognising he was a vulnerable young man showing signs of mental ill health who needed their help, they saw him as black man who posed a danger…”.
Learn more about what happened to Roger and his family's campaign for justice on INQUEST's digital archive.
MENTAL HEALTH: two NHS Trusts fined for criminal failings following deaths of mental health inpatients
Ten years ago, at the age of 22, Alice Figueiredo died a self-inflicted death in a London mental health hospital entrusted with her care.
Now North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) was fined £565,000 after being found guilty at the Old Bailey of health and safety failings in relation to her death.
Speaking to The Times, Alice’s mother Jane Figueiredo said, “I often thought, ‘What would Alice have done? She did fight for other people. She did fight for things. She was that sort of person.”
Too many people have been failed whilst in the care of this Trust. They include Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif, and Emily Moore - three teenagers who died self-inflicted deaths whilst detained under the mental health act.
As Emily Moore’s father, David Moore, said: “Emily deserves it and I want to make sure it doesn’t happen to any other families.”
Don't miss the powerful documentary from Sky News revealing the life, death and inquest of 18 year old Nonita Grabovskyte whilst in the care of the London Borough of Barnet.
The inquest concluded that a catalogue of serious systemic failings by her “corporate parent” and other agencies contributed to Nonita’s death.
Our Director Deborah Coles speaks candidly in the documentary about how the state’s default position is often to “deflect, deny, conceal and cover up responsibility”.
HILLSBOROUGH LAW: families and INQUEST give evidence to the Bill Committee
Our Director Deborah Coles spoke to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill Committee, aka the Hillsborough Law, alongside bereaved families and campaigners about the crucial changes this Bill must deliver.
As the Bill moves through Parliament, INQUEST, Justice and the Hillsborough Law Now coalition are urging MPs to make sure it delivers real change by:
Ensuring a enforceable duty of candour, so public bodies must always tell the truth and face consequences if they don’t.
Making sure the duty applies to all public authorities, including intelligence services and officers, and that senior leaders are held responsible.
Strengthening the offence of misleading the public so it truly works in practice.
Protecting equality of arms – ensuring families have the same access to information and legal support as state bodies during investigations.
Words such as “brutal”, “hellish” and “draining” are not uncommon when families describe their experiences dealing with the state after a death in custody. This report, commissioned by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, shows how true this is across the UK and different legal systems.
GRENFELL: 8.5 years on from the Fire, we still remember
Yesterday marked 8.5 years since the Grenfell Tower Fire that claimed the lives of 72 people.
We went along to the vigil to remember the 72 people who died and to stand in solidarity with the Grenfell community as they continue to fight for justice.
OTHER NEWS: we're so grateful for your generous support!
We were delighted at INQUEST to have exceeded our target of £30,000 for our Big Give campaign and we send out a special thank you to those of you who donated.
A big thank you also to the Reed Foundation for matching our funding. Thanks to all our friends, supporters, lawyers and campaigners for helping us reach our target which will aid us in our continued fight for justice.
Funding remains a real challenge. We do not take government funding, and all donations help us work alongside families fighting for truth and accountability and towards social and racial justice.
MERCH AVAILABLE TO BUY: Shop at INQUEST to buy your last-minute Christmas gifts. Every purchase is a donation towards our vital work, supporting bereaved families fighting for truth and accountability.
Newly available is our Remembering with Care: Memorial Zine, which was co-created by a collective of bereaved families, artists, academics, journalists and curators. This limited-edition Risoprint zine explores what memorialising means, preliminary findings from our remembering with care survey (which you can still fill out), reflections from family-led memorial events and features a beautiful fold out A3 poster.
FAMILY UPDATES
Upcoming events and activities for families who have worked with INQUEST, past and present.
These events are not public, so please only sign up if the above applies to you.
INQUEST Jukebox - Thursday 18 Dec - 6.30pm - 8pm
Our fifth annual INQUEST Jukebox – join us for an evening of story and songs, as families dedicate songs to their loved ones, sharing with us the reasons these are so memorable to them. Our tradition includes getting some nice food in, and raising a glass across zoom squares to each other!
If you are not sure what to expect, or would like more information before attending please do let us know. Email momansfield@inquest.org.uk to register.
NEW: Workshops We're changing how we work and are bringing you a range of workshops to help you prepare for your inquest. Find out more below!
Find out about how INQUEST works, what workshops we have coming up and how you can get involved in our policy and heritage projects.
Online
Thu 29 January 5-6:30pm
Navigating pre-inquest processes
Learn about your rights and the different post-death investigations that take place after your loved one’s death.
Online
Thu 12 February 5-6.30pm
Attending inquest hearings
Attending an inquest can be daunting and overwhelming. This workshop will teach you about what happens during inquest hearings and how you can best prepare.
Online
Connection Cafes - online events The regular connection cafes are an online space for families supported by INQUEST, past or present, to come together, share, reflect, connect and build community, in a facilitated space.
Morning - Second Wednesday of every month (10:30am-12pm). Next event on 14 January.
Evening - Fourth Wednesday of every month (6:30pm-8pm). Next event on 28 January.
Every year, INQUEST supports hundreds of families bereaved by deaths involving the state. We are independent of government and entirely reliant on grants and donations to continue our vital work.
Support us and bereaved families in the fight for truth, justice and accountability by becoming a regular donor today.
Newsletter: December 2025
CONTENTS
2025 has been another incredibly busy year for INQUEST, with both achievements and setbacks along the way. While we are proud of the progress we’ve made in policy, casework and our collaborative work with bereaved families, the need for our work remains pressing as we approach 2026.
With rising racism, authoritarianism, and threats to human rights here at home and around the world, defending every person’s right to life and justice has never been more vital, as is the need for solidarity and resistance. We are deeply grateful to all who have stood with us, from families and campaigners to lawyers, journalists and supporters.
We know this time of year is especially hard for many, particularly those grieving a loved one. Our thoughts are with you, and we hope you find rest, care and support over the festive period.
With thanks,
Deborah Coles, Director at INQUEST
Preventable: last chance to see BEZNA Theatre's exhibition in Hammersmith!
Come and see Preventable - an art installation created by BÈZNĂ Theatre in response to the INQUEST archive. This immersive, walk-through installation traces the history of state-related deaths - stories of loss, resistance, and the long pursuit of justice.
We are so moved by visitors who have described how impactful, informative and emotional it is to walkthrough this unique installation.
Preventable is open until today, 17 December 6pm at SCRUM Studio Warehouse, 191 Talgarth Road, Hammersmith, W6 8BJ.
PRISONS: Built to Harm: How women's prisons take lives
Our new report Built to Harm: how women's prisons take lives, exposes how if the government had listened to calls from campaigners and years of evidence to end the imprisonment of women, the women who died in prison could still be alive today.
In the last decade, 97 people have died in women’s prisons in England and Wales.
As our director Deborah Coles warned in the Guardian, “More deaths will follow unless the government radically changes direction… Now is the time for political bravery and steps towards ending women’s imprisonment.”
It isn't just women's prisons that are built to harm.
25 years after British Pakistani teenager Zahid Mubarek was murdered by a known racist cellmate, an inquest found that serious failings by Belmarsh Prison led to the killing of Sundeep Ghuman by his racist cellmate.
Speaking after the inquest, Sundeep's mother said: ‘To think of the pain and suffering Sundeep had to go through makes me very upset. I do not want anyone else to go through the pain and loss that I have had.'
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged a Leeds prison custody manager, nurse and healthcare staff with misconduct in public office and neglect in connection with the death of Chris Pearson, who died following restraint in 2021.
POLICE: Coroner "shocked" by firearms officers' evidence at inquest
Giedrius Vasiljevas, a 40-year-old Lithuanian man, was fatally shot by a Metropolitan police (MPS) firearms officer on the doorstep of his home on 23 November 2023. He was in a mental health crisis and had called the police for help.
Promising that an ambulance would be waiting for him outside his house, he was instead met by armed officers.
Despite an inquest jury finding that Giedrius was lawfully killed, the coroner was "shocked" by the quality of the officers' evidence and found serious failures in their communication with Giedrius.
Austeja, Giedrius' daughter said: "We have always maintained that my dad never meant anyone any harm on the night he was killed. His actions were simply a cry for help. He had co-operated with what the police wanted him to do, but he was tricked into thinking they would be getting him help."
The fatal consequences of police responding to people in mental health crisis is nothing new. In 1999, Roger Sylvester died aged 30 after being restrained by eight police officers whilst in a mental health crisis.
INQUEST supported Roger's family following his death. His brother Bernard Renwick recently gave evidence to the Undercover Policing Inquiry and spoke about the police racism that led to his brothers death: ‘rather than recognising he was a vulnerable young man showing signs of mental ill health who needed their help, they saw him as black man who posed a danger…”.
Learn more about what happened to Roger and his family's campaign for justice on INQUEST's digital archive.
MENTAL HEALTH: two NHS Trusts fined for criminal failings following deaths of mental health inpatients
Ten years ago, at the age of 22, Alice Figueiredo died a self-inflicted death in a London mental health hospital entrusted with her care.
Now North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) was fined £565,000 after being found guilty at the Old Bailey of health and safety failings in relation to her death.
Speaking to The Times, Alice’s mother Jane Figueiredo said, “I often thought, ‘What would Alice have done? She did fight for other people. She did fight for things. She was that sort of person.”
A few weeks later, a Sussex NHS Trust was fined £200,000 for criminal failings after death of 16 year old Ellame Ford-Dunn.
Her parents Nancy and Ken said Ellame was “failed by a system that was meant to protect her”.
Wes Streeting has announced a statutory public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, a milestone moment that was brought about by the courage of bereaved families who have fought tirelessly for truth and accountability.
Too many people have been failed whilst in the care of this Trust. They include Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif, and Emily Moore - three teenagers who died self-inflicted deaths whilst detained under the mental health act.
As Emily Moore’s father, David Moore, said: “Emily deserves it and I want to make sure it doesn’t happen to any other families.”
Unseen: A Girl called Nonita
Don't miss the powerful documentary from Sky News revealing the life, death and inquest of 18 year old Nonita Grabovskyte whilst in the care of the London Borough of Barnet.
The inquest concluded that a catalogue of serious systemic failings by her “corporate parent” and other agencies contributed to Nonita’s death.
Our Director Deborah Coles speaks candidly in the documentary about how the state’s default position is often to “deflect, deny, conceal and cover up responsibility”.
HILLSBOROUGH LAW: families and INQUEST give evidence to the Bill Committee
Our Director Deborah Coles spoke to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill Committee, aka the Hillsborough Law, alongside bereaved families and campaigners about the crucial changes this Bill must deliver.
As the Bill moves through Parliament, INQUEST, Justice and the Hillsborough Law Now coalition are urging MPs to make sure it delivers real change by:
Scotland: "A Brutal System"
Our new report "A Brutal System": families' experiences following a death in custody in Scotland, based on a Family Listening Day event INQUEST held with bereaved people in Scotland, should be a wake-up call for Scottish Government.
Words such as “brutal”, “hellish” and “draining” are not uncommon when families describe their experiences dealing with the state after a death in custody. This report, commissioned by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, shows how true this is across the UK and different legal systems.
GRENFELL: 8.5 years on from the Fire, we still remember
Yesterday marked 8.5 years since the Grenfell Tower Fire that claimed the lives of 72 people.
We went along to the vigil to remember the 72 people who died and to stand in solidarity with the Grenfell community as they continue to fight for justice.
OTHER NEWS: we're so grateful for your generous support!
We were delighted at INQUEST to have exceeded our target of £30,000 for our Big Give campaign and we send out a special thank you to those of you who donated.
A big thank you also to the Reed Foundation for matching our funding. Thanks to all our friends, supporters, lawyers and campaigners for helping us reach our target which will aid us in our continued fight for justice.
Funding remains a real challenge. We do not take government funding, and all donations help us work alongside families fighting for truth and accountability and towards social and racial justice.
MERCH AVAILABLE TO BUY: Shop at INQUEST to buy your last-minute Christmas gifts. Every purchase is a donation towards our vital work, supporting bereaved families fighting for truth and accountability.
Newly available is our Remembering with Care: Memorial Zine, which was co-created by a collective of bereaved families, artists, academics, journalists and curators. This limited-edition Risoprint zine explores what memorialising means, preliminary findings from our remembering with care survey (which you can still fill out), reflections from family-led memorial events and features a beautiful fold out A3 poster.
FAMILY UPDATES
Upcoming events and activities for families who have worked with INQUEST, past and present.
These events are not public, so please only sign up if the above applies to you.
INQUEST Jukebox - Thursday 18 Dec - 6.30pm - 8pm
Our fifth annual INQUEST Jukebox – join us for an evening of story and songs, as families dedicate songs to their loved ones, sharing with us the reasons these are so memorable to them. Our tradition includes getting some nice food in, and raising a glass across zoom squares to each other!
If you are not sure what to expect, or would like more information before attending please do let us know. Email momansfield@inquest.org.uk to register.
NEW: Workshops
We're changing how we work and are bringing you a range of workshops to help you prepare for your inquest. Find out more below!
To register, please contact momansfield@inquest.org.uk. or your caseworker.
5-6pm
Find out about how INQUEST works, what workshops we have coming up and how you can get involved in our policy and heritage projects.
5-6:30pm
Learn about your rights and the different post-death investigations that take place after your loved one’s death.
5-6.30pm
Attending an inquest can be daunting and overwhelming. This workshop will teach you about what happens during inquest hearings and how you can best prepare.
Connection Cafes - online events
The regular connection cafes are an online space for families supported by INQUEST, past or present, to come together, share, reflect, connect and build community, in a facilitated space.
Morning - Second Wednesday of every month (10:30am-12pm). Next event on 14 January.
Email momansfield@inquest.org.uk to find out more.
Make a Donation
Every year, INQUEST supports hundreds of families bereaved by deaths involving the state. We are independent of government and entirely reliant on grants and donations to continue our vital work.
Support us and bereaved families in the fight for truth, justice and accountability by becoming a regular donor today.
Donate now
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