Man becomes unwell in custody - Metropolitan Police Service, January 2019

On 12 January 2019, a man was arrested for shoplifting in east London. Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers conducted a Police National Computer (PNC) search and it was identified that the man was wanted for two other offences.

Two officers arrested him and took him to Forest Gate police station. While in custody, officers identified that the man was a drug user and was prone to seizures. The custody record shows that the arresting officers strip-searched the man on arrival at the police station, but found nothing. He was then placed on 30-minute checks and saw various healthcare professionals, who prescribed medication for him. The man was remanded in custody to appear at court on two days later.

The custody record shows that, the following day, officers found tablets in the man’s cell. He was subsequently strip searched by detention officers. Drug-related items were found during this search, and the man became unwell shortly after. The London Ambulance Service arrived and took him to hospital. The man recovered and was returned to the police station the following day.

Our investigators analysed CCTV footage taken inside the van in which the man was taken to custody, and from the custody suite, reviewed the man’s custody record, and examined relevant national and local policies. They also obtained accounts from some of the officers who interacted with the man, including those who strip searched him when he first arrived in custody.

Our investigation concluded that there was no evidence that the officers who carried out the initial strip search did so improperly. However, we did note that the officers did not share information in the PNC about the man’s previous behaviour with colleagues, which may have led to closer observation. We recommended that officers should take learning from this. We completed our investigation in July 2019.

After reviewing our report the MPS agreed that both officers would reflect with their line managers on their performance in relation to sharing of relevant PNC information with colleagues.