Adam Harris
23 Jul 2019 · Coroner Alison Mutch · Manchester (South)
This report repeats 1 earlier warning. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. prisoner held in van dock area without risk assessment
“The inquest heard that there was no formal documented triage/risk assessment in place when a prisoner was held in the van dock area pending space | becoming available in the custody suite”
2. suspect not searched before transport
“[the deceased] was not arrested until he was in the rear of the Police van. None of | the officers present searched him before he was placed in the van or before he | was transported to Ashton Police Station”
3. handover failure between arresting and transporting officers
“[the deceased] was not transported by the Arresting Officer but by Police Officers operating a divisional van. There was no evidence of a clear and detailed handover between the Arresting Officer and the Transporting Officers”
4. delayed custody record entry
“The Custody Sergeant did not open a custody record immediately on [the deceased] } Harris's arrival in the custody office. He used a piece of paper to record the } details that were given to him. He did not input details into the custody record ! until after [the deceased] had been placed in a cell”
5. inconsistent positioning causing aspiration risk
“The inquest was told by one officer that Mr [name redacted] was left in the cell on his back and that position was correct and in accordance with GMP guidance. Another officer indicated he was left in the recovery position/face down and that was correct/appropriate. Given Mr [name redacted] level of confusion and suspected intoxication it was unclear how placing him on his back would assist with managing a risk of aspiration”
Linked reports
Closely relatedConfidence 0.80 · moderate
Earlier report
“When the deceased is visited and checked all such visits should be | accurately recorded on the custody record”
This report
“The Custody Sergeant did not open a custody record immediately on [the deceased] } Harris's arrival in the custody office. He used a piece of paper to record the”
Responses
2019-0247-Response-from-Greater-Manchester-Police.pdf ↗· Greater Manchester Police
Stated action
“With regard to the waiting time in the van dock - detainee cell space is allocated presently by a centralised GMP”
Stated action
“An arresting officer may not be the same person as the transporting officer. The arresting officer will consider detainee risk to help determine the correct type of transport and whether handcuffs are required.”
Stated action
“the escorting officer is responsible for the safety, welfare, supervision and monitoring of a detainee. The role requires that a detainee is not left unsupervised in any Police vehicle.”
Stated action
“All detained persons arriving in the custody van dock area must remain under the direct control of at least one police officer; that requirement does not end until the detainee is accepted into the control of the custody staff.”
Stated action · August 2019
“From August 2019 the contents of the revised”
Stated action
“Greater Manchester Police are currently working with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and are exploring the introduction of a formal pre-detention medical assessment carried out by a Health Care Professional where a detainee remains in a Police vehicle in a van dock for a period in excess of 30 minutes”