Investigation into the death of a man suspected of shoplifting – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, April 2023

Police officers were called to a street in a city where a man in a wheelchair and hospital gown was captured on CCTV. The man matched the description of someone who had been seen shoplifting in the area at the time. 

The officers detained the man so they could search him. The man’s details were checked and he was arrested for failing to appear at court on a previous date. 

Checks were also made with the local hospital. The police were told that the man had recently discharged himself and did not need to return. 

The man was taken to police custody where he was seen by Health Care Professionals (HCPs). Enquiries made by the HCPs with the hospital revealed that the man had sepsis and he was taken back to the hospital. He died three hours later.

We received a death or serious injury referral from Hampshire Constabulary and decided to carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. 

We investigated whether the medical assistance the man received was appropriate and timely, and whether the police’s actions and decisions were in accordance with training, policy and guidance.

Our investigators went to the post-incident procedures. Police officers and staff provided statements, and CCTV footage from the custody suite and hospital was reviewed. We also looked at body worn video footage and reviewed the man’s medical records. 

We concluded there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. 

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 prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. 

We recommended that the force create and implement a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding sharing patient information with the hospital. 

The learning recommendation was published on our website: Recommendation - Hampshire Constabulary, September 2024 | Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)