Complaints regarding detention - Lincolnshire Police, March 2016

On 10 March 2016 Lincolnshire Police arrested a man for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer. During the arrest, the officer used force to make the man compliant. The man was taken into police custody and taken directly to a cell due to his intoxication. During the man’s time in custody, he disclosed he had autism, diabetes and epilepsy. A complaint was made by the man’s family that excessive force may have been used during his arrest, resulting in him having a broken jaw, and that the police did not manage the man appropriately while he was in custody.

During the investigation, investigators interviewed the officers, requested medical information and obtained statements from several witnesses.

The Investigator formed the opinion that there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find misconduct in relation to one custody sergeant for failing to recognise the man’s warning markers and considering calling a healthcare professional, and in relation to one inspector also for failing to recognise the warning markers for the man and for appropriately revising the care plan.

After reviewing our report, the force proposed to deal with this through management action to review their performance and any training needs.

We agreed that their proposals were appropriate.