Sanctions Deaths 'Should Be Independently Investigated'

Suicides which occur following a benefit sanction should be investigated by an independent commission, a parliamentary committee has said. The Work and Pensions Committee report into benefit sanctions recommends suicides linked to sanctions should be scrutinised in a similar manner to deaths in police custody. The report also called for a review of the systems of benefit sanctions – which see unemployment benefits stopped or reduced if claimants fail to adhere to a wide range of criteria – in the next parliament. The government previously rejected a call for an independent review in January. Read more on the Parliament website.