Recommendation - Greater Manchester Police, September 2020

Greater Manchester Police · Ref: 2019/122254

Recommendation date: 9 September 2020

Response due: 4 November 2020

Published: 5 November 2020

Near-miss in police custody. Detainee collapsed and couldn’t be roused. They were subsequently taken to hospital and fortunately made a full recovery.

View on IOPC website

Recommendations (1)

Recommendation Accepted

Recommendation

The IOPC recommends that the College of Policing amend the custody and detention, detainee care section of the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) to make it clear what they expect officers to do when a detainee cannot be roused in accordance … Read moreThe IOPC recommends that the College of Policing amend the custody and detention, detainee care section of the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) to make it clear what they expect officers to do when a detainee cannot be roused in accordance with the rousing procedure (set out in Annex H of PACE Code C). This follows a case where there was a near-miss in custody. A detainee, who was believed to be intoxicated, was placed on level two observations, with a requirement to be roused every 15 minutes. When the detainee was later checked he could not be roused. A Health Care Professional (HCP) was called who assessed the detainee but an ambulance was not called. When the detainee was next checked, they again could not be roused and an ambulance was called. The detainee was taken to hospital where they later recovered. Annex H of PACE Code C states that “Officers must call an appropriate HCP or an ambulance if a detainee cannot be roused...” The APP on detention and custody states “Police forces should adopt procedures to ensure that custody officers and staff adhere to the rousing procedures outlined in Annex H of PACE Code C.” This is also repeated in the section on alcohol and drugs. However, the APP also states: “Rousing involves the use of a stimulus designed to elicit a response from the detainee. Only when the detainee has given a comprehensive verbal response can they be considered as adequately roused. If a detainee cannot be roused, they should immediately be treated as a medical emergency.” Earlier in this section of the APP, under Medical Emergency, it states: “In medical emergencies, officers should call an ambulance immediately to convey the detainee to hospital as soon as possible. If an appropriate HCP is available at the police station, they should be asked to attend the detainee while awaiting the ambulance.” It therefore appears there are conflicting or inconsistent obligations set out in the APP, specifically: whether or not this situation should be treated as a medical emergency which means officers should call an ambulance immediately; orwhether officers have the discretion to either call a Health Care Professional or an ambulance (as per PACE). Do you accept the recommendation? Yes Show less

Force Response

Accepted action: For ease of reference, you have recommended that the College ‘…amend the custody and detention, detainee care section of the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) to make it clear what (we) expect officers to do when a detainee cannot … Read more