Recommendations - Suffolk Constabulary, October 2020
This case concerns a Death or Serious Injury (DSI) matter, the injured person (IP) presented as being in a Mental Health crisis and was detained. The IP suffered a siezure in the cell and on discovery medical attention sought. The IP was then transferred to hospital. On review of the custody record it was apparent that there were entries relating to observation of the IP during the period that he was no longer at the custody suite as he was in hospital. It was clear that the observation records were copied and pasted across numerous detainee records and were clearly factually incorrect in terms of the IP.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that Suffolk Constabulary should stop the practice in its custody suites of making multi-cell observation records in individual detainee custody records. Entries on an individual custody record should only note observations in relation to that specific detainee’s behaviour and condition.
This follows a DSI review in respect of a near miss in custody whereby a detainee experiencing Mental Health difficulties suffers a seizure whilst in custody. On review of the custody record it became apparent that standardised multi-cell observation records were being entered accross several detainee custody records. In practice this meant that the same information was recorded across individual custody records. In this particular case the observation records on a number of occassions implied that the detainee was checked in his cell and found to be present and either asleep or awake. In fact these entries were incorrect as detainee at that point was no longer being within the custody suite as he had been taken to hospital after the medical emergency whilst in his cell.
HMICFRS identified the same issue in their last inspection of Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies in May 2018. They recomended that multiple cell checks should not be recorded in individual custody records.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
This practise is not taught during detention officer and safer detention training within the forces learning and development team. This recommendation will be fully adopted and adhered to. This has been instructed to the staff by the Head of Custody (CI Paling) through his senior leadership team (SLT).
The IOPC recommended that Suffolk Constabulary ensures that all custody officers and staff are reminded of the importance of accurate custody entries, and are made aware of any change to force practices concerning the recording of visits and observations.
This follows a DSI review in respect of a near miss in custody whereby a detainee experiencing Mental Health difficulties suffers a seizure whilst in custody. On review of the custody record it became apparent that standardised multi-cell observation records were being entered accross several detainee custody records. In practice this meant that the same information was recorded across individual custody records. In this particular case the observation records on a number of occassions implied that the detainee was checked in his cell and found to be present and either asleep or awake. In fact these entries were incorrect as detainee at that point was no longer being within the custody suite as he had been taken to hospital after the medical emergency whilst in his cell.
HMICFRS identified the same issue in their last inspection of Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies in May 2018. They recomended that multiple cell checks should not be recorded in individual custody records.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
Suffolk Constabulary’s custody provision is managed along with Norfolk Constabulary. This is a joint department. The Head of Custody (CI Paling) has a series of 4 weekly management meetings where he briefs his SLT, and this briefing includes changes to policies. On 14-10-20 he briefed the SLT about this recommendation, the importance of accurate custody entries. The subject will also be reinforced through the Professional Standards publication ‘Learning Times’
The IOPC recommended that Suffolk Constabulary takes appropriate action to satisfy itself that officers and staff are no longer completing multi-cell observations records and are complying with any change to force practices.
This follows a DSI review in respect of a near miss in custody whereby a detainee experiencing Mental Health difficulties suffers a seizure whilst in custody. On review of the custody record it became apparent that standardised multi-cell observation records were being entered accross several detainee custody records. In practice this meant that the same information was recorded across individual custody records. In this particular case the observation records on a number of occassions implied that the detainee was checked in his cell and found to be present and either asleep or awake. In fact these entries were incorrect as detainee at that point was no longer being within the custody suite as he had been taken to hospital after the medical emergency whilst in his cell.
HMICFRS identified the same issue in their last inspection of Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies in May 2018. They recomended that multiple cell checks should not be recorded in individual custody records
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
The Custody command has a 4 weekly performance pack which contains data on key performance indicators. This is produced by the force’s analytical team. The compliance to with the instruction to cease multi cell checks is being managed through a new performance slide which will be included in this pack.