Recommendation - Derbyshire Constabulary, April 2026

The IOPC recommends that Derbyshire Constabulary should review and update its operational guidance and officer training on responding to suicide-related incidents to ensure officers clearly understand the legal powers available to them to remove items that pose an immediate risk to life. This should include clarification of the common law duty to protect life and how it applies to removing potentially harmful items, even where no criminal offence is involved.

This recommendation should assist in safeguarding suspects who pose an immediate risk to their own life.