Dear Ms Saunders

Re: Response to the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths Inquest touching upon the Death of Mr Mouayed Bashir

I am the Deputy Chief Constable of Gwent Police and I write of behalf of the Chief Constable to respond to the Report to Prevent Future Deaths issued under Regulation 28 of the Coroner’s (Investigations) Regulations 2013, following the tragic death of Mr Mouayed Bashir on 17 February 2021.

May I also to take this opportunity to reaffirm the comments I made at the conclusion of the Inquest on behalf of Gwent Police to extend my sympathies to the Mr Bashir family for the loss of their loved one.

Turning to our response, for ease of reference, I have repeated below the information you have requested be provided to you: -

“Confirmation as to whether the training on ABD has been reviewed and the principle of “Speak Up and Speak Out” enshrined therein, reflecting the acknowledged difficulties in identifying ABD even by experienced officers.”

I confirm that the national training for all police officers on Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) has been reviewed. The College of Policing has introduced a new learning package, specifically on ABD. The training package consists of an ABD PowerPoint which has been uploaded onto the “College Learn” system and made available to police officers and relevant police staff officers from on 14 February 2024.

I have attached the training package consisting of Power Point Presentation and accompanying Training Notes, which you will see is extensive. I confirm that training package this has been incorporated into the mandatory Public and Personal Safety Training programme and First Aid Training. This in effect means that from 14 February 2024 all officers and relevant police staff will have access to important updated training. In addition, as from 3 April 2024 onwards, in Gwent Police all frontline police officers who have only recently completed their mandatory Public and Personal Safety Training and First Aid Training will receive bespoke standalone specific ABD training using the College of Policing Power Point. The training as a whole fully reflects the acknowledged difficulties in identifying ABD even by experienced officers. The combination of slide 11 and the accompanying training notes evidence that the principle of “Speak Up and Speak Out” is enshrined in ABD training. In this regard, may I draw your attention to Slide 11 in the Power Point. In this slide, under the heading “Restraint Considerations” there are the following bullet points: - ƒ Where practicable avoid restraint. ƒ Where practicable use a Safety Officer/s to monitor the subject. ƒ Avoid any position that restricts breathing. ƒ As soon as possible, sit person up or allow person to find most comfortable position. ƒ All “speak up and speak out” if concerned. The last point is emboldened and in red so that it is clearly emphasized to all officers. In addition, the accompanying training notes state: - “Any person involved in the restraint irrespective of rank, role, or length of service should speak up and speak out if they identify any issue or concern in regard to the wellbeing of the person. Other officers may be too focused on what they are doing and might inadvertently miss key signs.” I hope that this response addresses the concerns that you set out in your report, and I am grateful to for you bringing them to our attention.