Circumstances surrounding police contact examined after woman dies in custody – North Wales Police, May 2024

In May 2024, North Wales Police received information about the whereabouts of a woman who had recently been recalled to prison. Efforts to find the woman were ongoing, and she was reported to be at a house.

In the hours that followed, officers went to the house and arrested the woman for the recall to prison. Officers discovered drug paraphernalia and evidence of drug use while the woman was collecting her medication and belongings, and she was also arrested for drug related offences. She was handcuffed and taken to custody.

The woman remained in custody while arrangements were made for her to be returned to prison. She was interviewed about the drug offences and officers carried out a risk assessment, putting a care plan in place. The custody record showed that regular observations were made by the custody team and healthcare professionals.

The woman was assessed by a healthcare professional after a period of vomiting and drowsiness. She was told that she was not fit to travel to prison using the scheduled transport and that she would remain in custody while arrangements were made to take her to hospital.

The woman experienced a medical episode in her cell. The custody team gave first aid, but the woman sadly died. Her cause of death was a culmination of multiple detrimental effects, including chronic drug use.

We received a death or serious injury referral from the force and decided to independently investigate the nature and extent of police contact with the woman before her death.

We examined whether the woman’s arrest and detention were carried out in line with relevant force and national policy and procedures, whether the care she received was appropriate, and if the decisions and actions of the police caused or contributed to her death. We also considered some concerns raised by the woman’s family, including why there was a delay in taking her to hospital.

Our investigators obtained and reviewed CCTV footage from custody and the woman’s cell. We took statements from officers and witness accounts from custody staff. We also examined custody records and logs, risk assessments, and documentary evidence such as medical records, as well as analysing officer body worn video footage and calls between healthcare professionals and the forensic medical examiner. Our investigators attended the post-mortem examination.

We concluded there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner to justify disciplinary proceedings.

Our evidence showed that the woman’s arrest was lawful and the use of handcuffs was proportionate, allowing officers to safely search the woman and gain control while she resisted.

We found that the woman was regularly checked by detention staff while in custody and these checks were correctly carried out in accordance with national policy. The care she received was timely, proportionate and in line with procedure.

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

We did not identify any organisational learning in this case.