Complaints about detention - Gloucestershire Constabulary, September 2017

On 20 September 2017 Gloucestershire Constabulary officers were called to an address in Gloucester to reports of a stabbing. Further information indicated that an occupant of the address was still wanted for outstanding drugs offences.

The female occupant of the house allowed one officer to come in, who established that there was no blood and that nobody was injured. While the officer was outside of the house conducting enquiries, they heard a crash at the back at the house and saw a man jumping over the garden wall. Two more officers were called for back-up. They pursued and detained the young man. During this detention, the young man sustained a head injury.

The woman came out of the house while the young man was being detained and started to scream and shout abuse at the officers. The officers’ evidence states that she moved her arms in a violent fashion and attempted to kick out at them despite requests to calm down. She was arrested for obstructing police and taken to custody. Evidence indicates that, while being placed in the holding cell, she kicked out at an officer who then took her to the floor. As a result of this she sustained a head injury.

During that time officers remained at the house with the young man, who was still detained, until they were able to establish the facts regarding the reported stabbing. They then released him from handcuffs and left him to the care of his father.

Complaints were made on behalf of the woman and the young man about their arrest and detention, including injuries they sustained, and medical treatment provided.

As part of our investigation, investigators conducted a CCTV trawl, obtained body-camera and CCTV footage and examined mobile phone footage and still images taken at the scene. Investigators also obtained statements from all police officers involved in the incident.

We found that evidence indicated that there was no inappropriate contact leading to the injuries sustained by the young man; the woman received medical support after informing the custody sergeant of her head injury; the young man was released as soon as practicable after officers received information that he was not wanted for any offences.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. We did not uphold the complaints.

After reviewing our report, Gloucestershire Constabulary agreed with our findings.