Man becomes unwell in custody - Hertfordshire Constabulary, June 2017

On 8 June 2017, Hertfordshire Constabulary officers arrested a man on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and criminal damage. They took him to custody at Hatfield police station. On arrival at the police station the man appeared unresponsive but, after making a quick recovery, was taken into custody. While in his cell, and before he was put into an anti-harm suit, he swallowed an unidentified tablet that he took from the pocket of his trousers. Later, he appeared to lose consciousness and was taken to hospital by ambulance, where he remained for three days.

During the investigation into this incident, investigators interviewed the main officers and staff involved, obtained statements from several police witnesses and assessed CCTV and body-worn video footage.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. However, we identified performance issue for one officer who used inappropriate language when referring to the man.

After reviewing our report, the force agreed that there was no case to answer for misconduct for any of the officers, but that the comment made by one officer amounted to a breach of the standard of professional behaviour concerning ‘Authority, Respect and Courtesy’. The officer will receive management action linked to a performance objective to read the Code of Ethics and standards of Professional Behaviour.