Death of a man following police contact – West Yorkshire Police, September 2016

In September 2016, West Yorkshire Police officers arrested a man at a hospital A&E department following an allegation of assault and took him to a police custody suite. A custody nurse assessed him and determined he should be returned to hospital. Before this could be arranged, police and detention officers restrained the man, using handcuffs, leg restraints and a contamination hood. An ambulance returned the man to the hospital and he died later that day.

We initially considered that three police officers and one detention officer may have used a level of force which may have been unjustified whilst they were restraining him at the custody suite, and a fourth police officer may have used a level of force which may have been unjustified as the man was being transported by ambulance to hospital. Our investigation addressed the alleged conduct of these officers.

During the investigation, we recovered CCTV footage of the man’s detention at the custody suite, obtained statements from a number of witnesses, and undertook forensic enquiries. The five officers were interviewed under criminal and misconduct caution. The investigation concluded there was no indication that any police officers or police staff may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.

Our investigation concluded in November 2017. We waited until the inquest concluded in June 2021 before publishing our findings.

The recorded cause of death was ‘Ischaemic heart disease with Codeine and Paracetamol (co-codamol) intoxication and Amitriptyline ingestion causing Serotonin Syndrome with symptoms of Acute Behavioural Disturbance with agitation and exertion against subsequent restraint and the physiological burden of Anaesthesia.’

The inquest jury concluded that the man’s treatment while in police custody and the force used to restrain him was justified, necessary and proportionate.

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. We did not identify any organisational learning.