Man dies following contact with police - West Yorkshire Police, July 2017

On 23 July 2017, two police community support officers (PCSOs) were in St George’s Crypt on Great George Street, Leeds, when they heard a disturbance outside between a man and woman. When they left, they saw a man on the ground nearby with a woman, who said he had told her that he had banged his head. The woman left without the PCSOs recording her details.

The man’s partner then approached and admitted to hitting him, and made further threats of violence towards him. The PCSOs separated the man and his partner and took no further action.

That evening, West Yorkshire Police (WYP) received a telephone call on 999 reporting that a man and a woman were fighting. Police officers attended and found the man on the bridge on Great George Street – this was the same man that the PCSOs had had contact earlier; he was taken to hospital and later died.

During the investigation, our investigators reviewed CCTV footage obtained by WYP as part of their investigation into the man’s death, obtained witness statements, and reviewed WYP policies and Airwave communication transmissions from the time of the incident. We found indications that the two PCSOs may have behaved in a manner which would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. Both officers co-operated with the interview process and provided accounts of their actions.

Based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that the two PCSOs had a case to answer for misconduct for: failing to take appropriate positive action in response to an assault; failing to follow force’s policy regarding domestic abuse incidents; failing to obtain details of a potential significant witness; and failing to treat the man with respect or courtesy, or to identify him as vulnerable. We suggested that management action may be the most appropriate way of dealing with these issues, to reduce the risk of similar occurrences in the future and provide an opportunity for reflection and individual learning for both officers.

After reviewing our report, WYP agreed with our findings and proposed actions.