Complaints about custody - Surrey Police, May and June 2015

On 10 May 2015, Surrey Police officers arrested and detained a man in Guildford, Surrey, for being drunk and disorderly, and took him to Guildford police station. After his release, the man alleged that a police officer followed him outside the custody suite and shouted at him.

On 31 May 2015, the same man was arrested for breach of his bail conditions and taken again to Guildford police station, where he was detained. He claimed that, on 1 June 2015, while being strip searched by officers in his cell, the same officer who had shouted at him previously struck him once to the left thigh. Following his release from custody he went to the Royal Surrey County Hospital and was diagnosed with an injury to his left thigh

The above incidents were referred to us by Surrey Police in March 2016 following a complaint made firstly on the man’s behalf, then later by the man himself.

Investigators interviewed the man and the officer regarding the first incident, but there were no other witnesses. As regards the second incident, investigators interviewed the man, the officer and witnesses. We obtained documentary evidence including policies, training records, custody logs and medical records. CCTV was only available for the second incident.

The Lead Investigator determined that there was sufficient evidence on which a reasonable tribunal could conclude the officer’s conduct of the strip search did not comply with established law and policy. He also determined that there was sufficient evidence on which a reasonable tribunal could conclude the use of a knee strike on the man was neither necessary, proportionate or justified and therefore not reasonable in the circumstances.

A gross misconduct hearing was held by Surrey Police at which an independent panel found the case against the officer not proven.