Police related deaths

Concerns summary Police training for subjects with suspected excited delirium lacks instruction on containment tactics and fails to inform officers that restraint take-down procedures can carry a risk of death, only focusing on minor injuries.

Concerns summary There was poor communication between the hospital and police regarding a patient's self-discharge against medical advice, compounded by inconsistent custody care, staff shortages, inadequate handovers, and a lack of understanding of welfare check protocols.

Concerns summary Critical information about the deceased's repeated suicide intentions recorded in police custody was not relayed to the Magistrates' Court, leading to bail being granted without full awareness of the high self-harm risk.

Concerns summary The report highlights a national safety issue and requests confirmation that IPCC recommendations have been followed, implying a potential gap in implementing or verifying crucial safety improvements.

Concerns summary Inconsistent understanding of armed containment, lack of trained negotiator guidance for first responders, and sub-optimal post-incident procedures undermined the investigation and public confidence.

Concerns summary Police pursuits showed insufficient regard for injured third parties, and lessons from previous pursuit-related deaths were not adequately learned or disseminated. Officers lacked sufficient and rigorous refresher training.

Concerns summary Police officers require full and adequate training to thoroughly interrogate all details relating to warning markers held on the PNC to prevent future deaths.

Concerns summary Police officers did not adequately consider the significant risk of death associated with prolonged restraint for individuals experiencing acute behavioural disturbance.

Concerns summary Police failed to act on reported threats and share critical information with mental health services, leading to a flawed psychiatric assessment and early discharge of a high-risk individual with significant mental health issues.

Concerns summary Insufficient verbal consultation between medical practitioners and custody staff, coupled with inadequate joint training, led to unclear observation levels and poor management of drug/alcohol risks in detainees.

Concerns summary Multiple failures in police custody included incomplete and unreviewed risk assessments, lack of 30-minute rousing checks for an alcoholic detainee, and inadequate staff training on managing risks associated with alcohol withdrawal.

Concerns summary A breakdown in information sharing between police units meant domestic incident details were not available to the Firearms Unit, impacting suitability assessment for a shotgun licence renewal.

Concerns summary Patient vulnerability was exacerbated by service changes and failures in coordinating care, including sending critical appointment letters directly to a patient unable to understand them, and a lack of follow-up on missed appointments.

Concerns summary A significant mismatch exists between police and A&E staff perceptions regarding the treatment of aggressive patients, including those with Excited Delirium, compounded by a lack of dialogue and clear guidelines.

Concerns summary Police investigation suffered from premature offence classification, misleading record entries, and inadequate supervision of action plans. There was also a gap in domestic violence reporting for non-adults and a reluctance to use interpreting services.

Concerns summary Critical high-risk information about a patient's previous suicide attempt, recorded on police databases, was not effectively communicated between police forces or to frontline officers. This hindered proper risk assessment and the implementation of a Mental Health Act assessment.

Concerns summary Police training on positional asphyxia is inadequate, and vehicle designs hinder monitoring detainees. The SIA also fails to review restraint-related deaths by door supervisors.

Concerns summary Police force control lacked adequate training for pursuit operators, an efficient notification system for pursuits, and sufficient staffing on the 'Force desk' to manage incidents effectively.

Concerns summary Insufficient intelligence gathering and a failure to exhaust all intelligence avenues regarding key individuals prior to the stop, impacting subsequent police actions.

Concerns summary Police incident management suffered from unclear leadership, inadequate communication protocols, ineffective resource allocation, and unreliable electronic aids, compromising response safety and efficiency.

Concerns summary Police improperly pressured the grieving family regarding organ donation, and an officer subverted the coroner's judicial decision, leading to the loss of six organs.

Concerns summary Police training on 'excited delirium' is not widely understood by other health professionals, risking miscommunication and missed diagnoses of underlying medical conditions. Standardising the term to 'extreme agitation' is needed.

Concerns summary Pontins' physical intervention policy was inadequate, lacking proper staff training, allowing unbadged personnel in restraints, and failing to ensure proper monitoring for positional asphyxia.

Concerns summary Police lacked follow-up with clinicians/parents and failed to inform mentally ill child abuse victims about their option to provide evidence later. There was no guidance for police on communicating with such vulnerable minors.

Concerns summary The Metropolitan Police lack a policy on handcuff use when requested by medical staff for hospital patients with medical conditions, not mental health issues.