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The definition of a death in police custody is based on a 1994 resolution of the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council. Deaths in police custody are divided into two main categories. Category 1:
(a) Deaths in institutional settings (eg police stations or lock-ups, police vehicles, during transfer to or from such an institution, or in hospitals following transfer from an institution). 

(b) Other deaths in police operations where officers were in close contact with the deceased. This would include most raids and shootings by police. However, it would not include most sieges where a perimeter was established around a premises but officers did not have such close contact with the person to be able to significantly influence or control the person’s behaviour.

Category 2: Other deaths during custody-related police operations. This would cover situations where officers did not have such close contact with the person to be able to significantly influence or control the person’s behaviour. It would include most sieges, as described above, and most cases where officers were attempting to detain a person—for example, a pursuit.

Method of detainment refers to the circumstances in which police were detaining or attempting to detain the individual. Method of detainment is categorised in the NDICP as:

• motor vehicle pursuit; other pursuit (eg foot pursuit);
• siege—whereby a defined area is defended by an individual against all others;
• raid—whereby police attempt to entrap an individual in a defined area in order to detain;
• or other—includes attempts to detain not elsewhere classified (eg police shootings).