Man collapses in custody - Metropolitan Police Service, June 2017

On 21 June 2017 Metropolitan Police Service officers responded to reports that four men were fighting with weapons in the street. Members of the public identified the suspect, who was believed to be armed with a machete, and said that one man had sustained a head injury. Officers requested additional units, along with a Taser-trained officer, before going to the man’s home. The door was open by the man’s partner, with him standing behind. The man did not comply with the officers’ verbal commands and walked away from the door. He was Tasered in the back by the Taser-trained officer. The man was arrested and checked for visible injuries (he had none). He was taken to a police station.

Following his arrival in custody, the man collapsed. He was taken to hospital, where he remained under police guard and was discharged the following day.

Our investigators obtained statements provided by the officers and witnesses and reviewed reports from medical experts.

The evidence suggested that the Taser discharge had not caused the man to become unwell in custody, but that he had a pre-diagnosed underlying medical condition – epilepsy – which was the reason for his collapse.

The investigation concluded there was no indication any police officer may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence. We completed our investigation in February 2018.