A man sustained injuries following his arrest – Warwickshire Police, March 2018

On 8 March 2018, two officers monitored a car travelling in excess of 60mph in a 40mph zone. The car stopped, and a man got out. Officers suspected the man was intoxicated as he staggered while running towards a property.

Officers forced entry to the property and the man was seen by officers attempting to drink from a bottle of wine, which officers removed from him. The officers attempted to place the man in handcuffs, but a struggle ensued. Officers used a level of force to detain the man and it is believed that the man caught his head on the sideboard, cutting his head. The man also sustained injury to his right cheek following the use of force by officers. Officers smelt intoxicating liquor on the man’s breath. He was arrested for drink driving and assaulting and obstructing police in the execution of duty.

First aid was provided by officers on a cut to the man’s head and he was taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed. He was later taken to custody and his detention was authorised. The man was bailed on 9 March 2018.

On 11 March 2018 the man was admitted to hospital suffering from acute concussion and states he spent four days in hospital. The man alleged that an excessive level of force was used during his arrest, that he was not properly cared for while in custody, and that the statements of the two arresting officers contradicted his wife and daughter’s statements.

We obtained several witness statements from police officers and staff. We reviewed and analysed call recordings, airwave radio transmissions, body worn video, telematics, custody CCTV, incident and custody logs and medical records including toxicology reports. We consulted and compared our analysis to local and national policies and legislation.

Our investigation concluded in January 2020 where we concluded there was no indication any police officer or police staff had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence.

Throughout this investigation, we have carefully considered whether there are any opportunities for organisational learning or improvement. In this case, we did not identify any organisational learning.