Contact with police before a man dies - Wiltshire Police, July 2018

On 16 July 2018 Salisbury District Hospital reported to Wiltshire Police that they were concerned for the safety of a man. The man had said that he had tried to take his own life twice that day and had access to firearms. The man was awaiting a mental health assessment, but said he would shoot himself if he left the hospital. Officers went to the man’s home and the hospital. They checked on the welfare of his family and secured his firearms so he could not access them or any premises that contained firearms.

The man later discharged himself from hospital and drove away in his car. His car was briefly sighted by one police vehicle which then lost sight of him. It was seen by another police vehicle travelling at speed. The second police vehicle lost sight of the car. Shortly afterwards, the second police vehicle came across the car, which had crashed into a tree. The man had been ejected from the vehicle and had died.

Our investigators obtained accounts from the officers who had been to the hospital and the man’s home, and from those who were driving the police vehicles. They also spoke to officers and staff working in the police control room, and to the man’s family. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and analysis carried out on the distance between the police vehicles and the man’s car, together with information on the speeds he was travelling. They also reviewed in-car footage and airwaves from the incident and body-worn video post incident.

Evidence showed that the officers did not activate the blue lights and sirens at any time, and CCTV footage confirmed that 33 seconds separated the two vehicles as they travelled through the village just before the car crashed. We were of the opinion that the actions of the officers had been appropriate and proportionate. There was no evidence to suggest police caused or contributed to the man’s death.

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, or had committed a criminal offence. We completed our investigation in December 2018.