Man injured during restraint - Norfolk Constabulary, April 2019

At around 3.15am on 27 April 2019, Norfolk Constabulary officers responded to a request from ambulance service paramedics who had seen a man walking in the middle of the road in Diss, appearing to be intoxicated. The police officers attempted to guide the man onto the pavement when he became violent and assaulted one of the officers and then a paramedic. Following the assaults, officers attempted to use incapacitant spray on the man, but this had no effect and he ran away. He was located shortly afterwards standing in a river in a field next to Diss golf club. When the man eventually left the river and approached officers, they attempted to restrain him and place him in handcuffs. He resisted restraint, and officers used their batons to get him to comply, including striking him on the head. The man was then arrested for multiple assaults on emergency workers. He had sustained a closed fracture to his skull and was taken directly to hospital, where he received treatment for his injury before being released to police custody.

Our investigators obtained and reviewed statements from all officers involved, as well as from the paramedics who initially alerted the police to the man in the road. We reviewed and analysed footage and audio from the body-worn video cameras of officers, as well as the radio communications between officers on the scene, the control room and other officers in the area. We also reviewed legislation, policies and procedures on the use of incapacitant spray, batons and handcuffs.

The evidence suggested that the officers’ use of force that ultimately led to the man sustaining a fractured skulled was justified, in that it was necessary, proportionate and reasonable in all the circumstances, and there were no other options available to the police. The evidence also suggested that the man received appropriate aftercare, in that he was taken directly to hospital to receive treatment for his head injury.

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 October 2019.