Injury sustained during restraint - Bedfordshire Police, January 2018

On 23 January 2018 Bedfordshire Police officers arrested a woman on suspicion of assault, affray and criminal damage. The woman was taken to Luton Police Station, where she was booked into custody. After being placed in a cell she started banging her head against the wall and was restrained by an officer. The woman began to scream and be abusive. Officers then placed her on the floor of her cell face down and in leg restraints. While being released from the restraint, the woman sustained an injury to her knee. A healthcare practitioner was called and saw that she had appeared to have dislocated her knee. Officers took the woman to hospital for treatment.

Our investigators reviewed CCTV from custody, officers’ body-worn video footage and obtained a number of witness statements. Investigators were not able to make contact with the woman to obtain her account of the events.

Evidence indicated that one of the officers initially tried to reason with the woman by using verbal commands to stop her banging her head. Only when this failed did another officer enter the cell and use force to restrain her by taking hold of her arms. As the woman had been kicking at officers earlier, she was placed in leg restraints. CCTV footage from the incident appeared to indicate that proper procedures had been followed during the restraint.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any police officer or staff member had behaved in a manner that would justify bringing disciplinary proceedings, or committed a criminal offence.

After reviewing our report, Bedfordshire Police agreed. The force also identified organisational learning concerning placing weight on the joints of detainees while restraining using leg restraints. They will refer this matter for review and inclusion in training for staff in order to raise aware of the risk of this type of injury.