Kevin Clarke
18 Feb 2021 · Coroner Andrew Harris · London Inner South
The coroner's concerns
1. inadequate detainee health monitoring during restraint
“Evidence was adduced that the police officer training programmes are run by a specialist in officer safety, the core being Officer [name redacted], and another module being Emergency Life Support (ELS) and a bolt on of ABD Training. The focus of ELS is upon action in the event of a cardiac arrest, so that there is little attention to given to health and safety of the detainee in non-emergency situations and an inadequate input by health professionals. It is illustrated by the officer who said that”
2. paramedic insufficiently senior to assess detainee health
“Despite organization protocols and the MoU there was a conspicuous lack of leadership, risk assessment or challenge on health and safety of the detainee by the paramedic, who appeared to have insufficient seniority or experience to know what to do in a detention situation. Equally there was a lack of expectation or request by police for her input and advice. My expert physician opined that if the detainee was to be moved, he wouldn't recommend standing him and walking him, which would make”
3. absence of effective safety officer monitoring
“The protocols of the MPS require a Safety Officer to monitor the detainee's health and safety in restraint situations. Evidence heard suggested that this was either not carried out or was ineffective. No officer challenged the decision to cuff the detainee when he started to get up and the Safety Officer at the time agrees he did not consider whether his illness made the decision unreasonable, as laid out in ACPO guidance. An officer agreed that the risks of restraint to the detainee were not”
4. inadequate supervision of restraint scene
“There was serious inadequacy of supervision. The initial scene was managed by”