David Bennett Inquiry

The David Bennett Inquiry was held in the UK to look into the death of David "Rocky" Bennett on 30 October 1998 in a medium secure psychiatric unit in Norwich, after being restrained by staff.

David Bennett was a 38-year-old African-Caribbean patient, who had suffered mental illness for 18 years, and had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Black men are five times more likely to be detained by the authorities (under the 1983 Mental Health legislation) than white men. The inquiry concluded that this is due to institutional racism within the mental health services.

The inquiry into the death of David ‘Rocky’ Bennett recommended that training in cultural competencies should become of paramount importance (Department of Health, 2003).