An inquest has been opened and adjourned
09:47, 10 Sep 2025Updated 09:48, 10 Sep 2025
HMP Forest Bank(Image: MEN MEDIA)
An investigation has been launched after the death of a Forest Bank prison inmate. The prisons watchdog has announced Anthony Stephen Copeland died on August 21. He was 37.
Independent watchdog the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) said an investigation into his death was now underway.
Forest Bank is a Category B men’s private prison in the Pendlebury area of Salford.
The death is the latest in a series of tragedies involving inmates at the prison.
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The PPO investigates all deaths in custody and post-release on certain occasions. Details confirming Mr Copeland’s date of birth and date of death have now been published on its website.
It’s not known whether he was a serving prisoner or on remand awaiting a court case or sentence.
The prison has released a statement(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The PPO said an investigation into his death was ‘in progress’.
The prison near Agecroft Cemetery – built on the site of the former Agecroft power station – is run privately by Sodexo. It has been hit by a series of fatalities in custody over recent years.
HMP Forest Bank opened in 2000 with accommodation provided on six residential units. Its operational capacity now stands at 1,460.
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Sodexo, founded and based in France, runs six prisons in England and Scotland. No further details on Mr Copeland or the circumstances behind his death, have been released.
An inquest into his death, meanwhile, was opened and adjourned at Bolton Coroner’s Court on September 1.
His residence was given as Swinton and he’s said to have died at Salford Royal Hospital, according to the court’s records.
The prison has released a statement confirming the death, but said it couldn’t comment further.
An HMP Forest Bank spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a prisoner sadly passed away at HMP Forest Bank on 21 August, and our thoughts are with the prisoner’s family. All deaths in custody are investigated by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and therefore we are unable to comment further at this stage.”
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