The British government is planning to launch an independent review of deaths that occurred in police custody over the years in England and Wales.

Home Secretary, Theresa May has announced the plan in order to revive the public confidence in the country’s law enforce agencies.

Authorities have so far been indifferent toward families who have lost their loved ones in custody without knowing the reasons. May, however, issued a sympathetic note saying she has been “been struck by the pain and suffering of families still looking for answers”.

The move follows a number of incidents and allegations of wrongdoing on the part of police who often found locking up vulnerable people.

The home secretary will touch the police-public relationship issue during a speech in south London.  Since taking office, May has become increasingly concerned about the experiences vulnerable people have gone through. Recently, she met with the families of Sean Rigg and Olaseni Lewis who died in the hands of officers.

Mentally-ill Rigg was found dead in a Brixton police cell in 2008. Two years later, 23-year-old Lewis, who was also suffering from mental problem died after being restrained three times in the 45 minutes by officers.

The latest figure shows the number of people dying in police custody has reached its highest level in five years. According to the Independent Police Complaints Commission at least 196 people died in or following police custody in the last decade. 17 people died in 2014-15 alone.

Another 438 are suspected of committing suicide within 48 hours of being detained. The number of people apparently taking their own lives reached a record level of 68 in 2014. 

Meanwhile, the home secretary has already pledged to spend up to £15m to on alternatives for those held in police cells after being detained under the Mental Health Act.