Use of force examined in mental health hospital – Lancashire Constabulary, December 2025

In December 2025, Lancashire Constabulary received a 999 call from a mental health hospital reporting that a patient had assaulted staff and other patients, was aggressive, and had self-harmed. The incident was graded as an emergency, and two police officers were sent to the hospital.

Staff at the hospital told the police officers that the patient was intoxicated, had assaulted staff, and needed to be taken to the seclusion ward. They explained the patient had a history of epilepsy and usually experienced seizures when intoxicated.

The officers handcuffed the patient with their hands in front of them. While the patient was responsive and compliant during this, they became increasingly agitated, moving around, creating a disturbance, and displaying aggressive behaviour towards other patients. One of the officers delivered a single open palm strike to the patient’s face, causing them to fall to the floor. The patient subsequently suffered a seizure and was taken to hospital.

We received a death or serious injury referral from the force and decided to independently investigate police contact with the patient at the mental health hospital. We examined the officers’ conduct, actions and decision-making, whether the force used by one officer was necessary, reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances, and whether the officers acted in line with local and national policies, guidance and training.

We also considered the nature and extent of police contact with the patient before they were seriously injured, and whether the police may have caused or contributed to that injury.

Our investigators examined incident and use of force reports, CCTV footage from the mental health hospital, and police body worn video footage. We reviewed force and national policies and guidance, interviewed the officer who used force, and obtained witness accounts from police officers and hospital staff. We also obtained evidence from a Subject Matter Expert about use of force.

We concluded there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner to justify disciplinary proceedings.

We found that the patient’s behaviour and the officers’ perception of the threat the patient posed, meant some level of force was necessary to control the escalating situation. The force used by the officer was in line with their training when dealing with someone who was resisting, and was necessary, reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances, a view supported by the Subject Matter Expert.

We found insufficient evidence that the officer’s open palm strike caused the patient to become unconscious or experience seizures. 

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

We did not identify any organisational learning in this case.