Man dies following contact with police - Staffordshire Police, March 2018

On 15 March 2018 Staffordshire Police conducted an unannounced home visit to a registered sex offender, to carry out a standard risk assessment and welfare check. During the visit the police found what they believed to be an indecent video on the man’s phone and seized it. The man told the officers that he would rather kill himself than go back to prison. Officers asked the man whether he was considering self-harming then and he said no. They gave him welfare advice and signposted him to support agencies. They did not arrest him.

Later the same day, officers went back to check on the man. As they could not get a response they were forced to make entry to the property. The man was found dead in his bedroom, surrounded by prescription drugs.

Our investigators conducted an examination of the man’s records and took witness statements from all police officers involved in the two visits.

The two officers who visited the man agreed after leaving him that the threat of imminent suicide was low based on the answers the man had given and his demeanour. At that point there was no evidence that he would be going back to prison. The officers’ statements confirm that they provided the man with support and advice at that time that was appropriate and in line with guidance. The evidence suggested that the officers and police staff involved were appropriately trained and followed policy and procedure during their contact with the man.

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, or had committed a criminal offence.

After reviewing our report Staffordshire Police agreed.

We completed our investigation in November 2018 but waited until the inquest into the man’s death had concluded in summer 2019 to publish its outcomes. The inquest recorded a conclusion of suicide.