Man found dead after contact with police - Norfolk Constabulary, July 2018

On 1 June 2018 a man was reported to be exposing himself in public and behaving erratically. Norfolk Constabulary attended a caravan park and forced entry into a caravan, where they arrested the man. Officers noticed alcohol containers and empty medicine packets and called an ambulance, as they were concerned the man was having a mental health crisis.

They were informed that there would be a long wait, so they decided to take him to custody, where he would be checked by a medic. While en route to the hospital, the man became unresponsive and officers took him to A&E.

The man was de-arrested and placed into an induced coma. He stayed in hospital until 8 June 2018, when he was discharged. Norfolk Constabulary was contacted, but they did not arrest him due to other operational priorities.

On 30 June an officer went to the man’s home but he wasn’t there, neither did he answer his phone.

After the man failed to answer bail on 10 July, an incident report was started with a vehicle check on the man. On 13 July the man was found dead.

Our investigators obtained and reviewed a number of records. We served one officer, who was the officer in charge of the criminal investigation, with a notice of investigation for potentially not fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. The officer responded to our questions and explained why they were not available to progress the investigation.

Evidence suggested that no specific concerns about the man were brought to the attention of the police that required a response in relation to his welfare. While there appeared to have been limited progress on the criminal investigation for which the man was arrested this seems to result from an initial lack of resources as well as the officer in charge’s shift pattern and other work priorities. There was no urgency to deal with the man as a priority offender.

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 November 2018 but waited until the inquest into the man’s death had concluded before publishing its outcomes.