Man injured during arrest - West Midlands Police, April 2018

On 5 April 2018 in Coventry, two West Midlands Police traffic officers attempted to stop a Range Rover suspected of being involved in previous criminal offences. The driver of the Range Rover rammed the unmarked police vehicle before attempting to escape arrest.

The officers used force to try to detain the driver, including incapacitant spray and baton strikes. During this arrest, the man sustained a fracture to his right fibula and a head wound.

During the investigation, our investigators examined CCTV and police in-car footage of the incident. They also contacted witnesses to the incident and asked them to provide accounts of what they had seen.

We interviewed one police officer under criminal caution to account for his use of his police baton during the arrest.

Evidence indicated that the officer had used a number of tactics prior to deploying his baton, escalating in response to the driver’s continued failure to co-operate. The officer explained his use of force, and in the light of the threat posed, the evidence suggested that this was reasonable, proportionate and justified.

Based on the evidence available, at the end of the investigation, 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, or had committed a criminal offence. We concluded our investigation in November 2018.

After reviewing our report West Midlands Police agreed.