The death of a 27-year-old man, found hanged by his shoelaces in the custody suite of a police station, was referred by the Chief Constable to the Police Ombudsman’s Office for independent investigation.
he police station has not been identified in this summary report in order to prevent further distress to relatives and friends of the deceased.
The investigation established that the man had been in custody for just over eight hours, during which time he had been allowed out of his cell on a number of occasions to smoke in an alcove secured by a concertina gate.
At around 6.30pm the man asked a police officer for a cigarette, which he was given. He was taken to the alcove and the concertina gate was locked shut before the custody sergeant, believing the deceased to be at no risk of harming himself, left him alone in the custody area. The man subsequently used his shoelaces to hang himself from the concertina gate at around 6.45pm.
An ambulance arrived at 6.53pm, having been summoned by two officers who discovered the man, but their attempts to resuscitate him failed and he was declared dead at 7.10pm.
As required by law, police officers informed the Police Ombudsman's office of the fatality, and were asked to seal the custody suite to protect evidential opportunities pending the arrival of the Police Ombudsman’s investigators.
Outcome of investigation:
During their investigation Police Ombudsman investigators spoke to the deceased's doctor, who confirmed that there was no indication within his medical notes or from his personal experience of any suicidal tendencies. Police also described him as a model prisoner who had never been aggressive towards officers. A post-mortem examination showed that the deceased's blood contained no alcohol.
The Executive Director of the Police Ombudsman's Office, David Wood, concluded: "The investigation into this matter has not revealed the commission of any criminal or disciplinary offences by officers of the Police Service for Northern Ireland. It is felt that those officers who did come into contact with the deceased behaved in a proper manner at all times."
Mr Wood concluded, however, that the tragic death had reinforced the need for the PSNI to ensure that officers are fully and currently trained in first aid. While the first aid training records of two of the officers involved in the incident were fully up-to-date, another officer had not had adequate refresher training. There is no suggestion, however, that this reduced the effectiveness of the first aid treatment he administered.
Recommendations for the PSNI as a result of the Police Ombudsman investigation:
A total of five recommendations were made as a result of the investigation. These were:
- A custody suite should not be left unattended whilst prisoners are detained, particularly if prisoners are let out of their cell. An instruction should be issued reinforcing this.
- The use of concertina gates should cease in all custody suites within Police Service of Northern Ireland stations. If the use of such gates has to continue for operational reasons any person detained using such gates should be constantly supervised.
- Consideration should be given to the posting of assistants or gaolers to custody suites in support of Custody Sergeants.
- The officer responsible for Health and Safety for the Police Service of Northern Ireland should undertake a risk assessment surrounding the layout of custody suites and reducing the opportunity for persons to cause themselves deliberate self-harm.
- A review of first aid training should take place to ensure that all officers employed in custody suites have received current training.