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| Family urge new probe over restrained man's death | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A jury found "gross failings" contributed to Kaine Fletcher's death, following an inquest | A jury found "gross failings" contributed to Kaine Fletcher's death, following an inquest |
| The police watchdog is being urged to conduct another investigation into officers' handling of a man who died hours after being restrained during a mental health crisis. | The police watchdog is being urged to conduct another investigation into officers' handling of a man who died hours after being restrained during a mental health crisis. |
| Kaine Fletcher, 26, died in hospital in Nottingham on 3 July 2022 after a police welfare check escalated into a decision to section him. | Kaine Fletcher, 26, died in hospital in Nottingham on 3 July 2022 after a police welfare check escalated into a decision to section him. |
| An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) - carried out before an inquest into Mr Fletcher's death - found police actions were "reasonable and proportionate". | An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) - carried out before an inquest into Mr Fletcher's death - found police actions were "reasonable and proportionate". |
| However, Mr Fletcher's family want the IOPC to take further action after an inquest jury in July concluded "gross failings" by Nottinghamshire Police and others involved contributed to his death. | However, Mr Fletcher's family want the IOPC to take further action after an inquest jury in July concluded "gross failings" by Nottinghamshire Police and others involved contributed to his death. |
| Nathaniel Ameyaw, Mr Fletcher's father, said: "It took for a jury to uncover things, uncover failings that the IOPC should have done. | Nathaniel Ameyaw, Mr Fletcher's father, said: "It took for a jury to uncover things, uncover failings that the IOPC should have done. |
| "Our hope is that they will investigate again and take a thorough look at the police's policies, procedures, what they should have done, what they didn't do - because it wasn't thorough." | "Our hope is that they will investigate again and take a thorough look at the police's policies, procedures, what they should have done, what they didn't do - because it wasn't thorough." |
| Mr Fletcher's family say they still have unanswered questions about what happened | Mr Fletcher's family say they still have unanswered questions about what happened |
| Mr Fletcher was diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder in 2020 and had struggled with a drug addiction. | Mr Fletcher was diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder in 2020 and had struggled with a drug addiction. |
| Police were called to his accommodation, at young people's charity YMCA, to carry out a welfare check on 3 July 2022 following concerns he would harm himself. | Police were called to his accommodation, at young people's charity YMCA, to carry out a welfare check on 3 July 2022 following concerns he would harm himself. |
| After agreeing to be taken to hospital by the officers, Mr Fletcher suddenly changed his mind, no longer believing they were really police. | After agreeing to be taken to hospital by the officers, Mr Fletcher suddenly changed his mind, no longer believing they were really police. |
| He was then detained under the Mental Health Act. | He was then detained under the Mental Health Act. |
| Mr Fletcher was handcuffed, struck and restrained for about 30 minutes by numerous officers. | Mr Fletcher was handcuffed, struck and restrained for about 30 minutes by numerous officers. |
| Eventually an ambulance arrived, and he was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, where he died. | Eventually an ambulance arrived, and he was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, where he died. |
| Officers had been called to the home of Mr Fletcher's mother the day before his death, as he was experiencing another "mental health disturbance". | Officers had been called to the home of Mr Fletcher's mother the day before his death, as he was experiencing another "mental health disturbance". |
| It was discussed then that he should be sectioned and taken to a place of safety - a decision his family supported. | It was discussed then that he should be sectioned and taken to a place of safety - a decision his family supported. |
| But under the guidance of a community nurse, Mr Fletcher was taken back to his accommodation with no further intervention. | But under the guidance of a community nurse, Mr Fletcher was taken back to his accommodation with no further intervention. |
| His condition deteriorated overnight and led to the police welfare check that started the chain of events leading to his death. | His condition deteriorated overnight and led to the police welfare check that started the chain of events leading to his death. |
| Investigation report | Investigation report |
| Nottinghamshire Police made a referral to the IOPC on 3 July 2022, and the watchdog said it made a decision to investigate on the same day. | Nottinghamshire Police made a referral to the IOPC on 3 July 2022, and the watchdog said it made a decision to investigate on the same day. |
| The investigation examined police contact with Mr Fletcher on the morning he died, as well as the previous day when they were called to his mother's address. | The investigation examined police contact with Mr Fletcher on the morning he died, as well as the previous day when they were called to his mother's address. |
| It also considered complaints raised by the family about consideration of his mental health, officers' use of force restraining him and an allegation he was treated differently because he was mixed-race. | It also considered complaints raised by the family about consideration of his mental health, officers' use of force restraining him and an allegation he was treated differently because he was mixed-race. |
| The IOPC's final report was completed in April 2024 and was shared with the coroner and Mr Fletcher's family to assist with the inquest. | The IOPC's final report was completed in April 2024 and was shared with the coroner and Mr Fletcher's family to assist with the inquest. |
| The findings were only made public after the inquest had concluded. | The findings were only made public after the inquest had concluded. |
| The watchdog found "no evidence" of a criminal offence or behaviour that justified disciplinary proceedings. | The watchdog found "no evidence" of a criminal offence or behaviour that justified disciplinary proceedings. |
| It added there was no evidence supporting the allegation of less favourable treatment of Mr Fletcher. | It added there was no evidence supporting the allegation of less favourable treatment of Mr Fletcher. |
| Mr Ameyaw believes the IOPC should look further into police policy in a new investigation | Mr Ameyaw believes the IOPC should look further into police policy in a new investigation |
| Mr Fletcher's cause of death was recorded as "the physical effects of exertion following a period of restraint, combined with the cocaine and other substances". | Mr Fletcher's cause of death was recorded as "the physical effects of exertion following a period of restraint, combined with the cocaine and other substances". |
| After a four-week inquest, the jury concluded the level of restraint used by the officers was "appropriate" but found their combined force was "uncontrolled". | After a four-week inquest, the jury concluded the level of restraint used by the officers was "appropriate" but found their combined force was "uncontrolled". |
| The jury said there was "ineffective communication" at the scene and a "lack of clear leadership". | The jury said there was "ineffective communication" at the scene and a "lack of clear leadership". |
| They added police should have considered the length of time Mr Fletcher was kept in restraints and concluded there was a "gross failure" in training across all agencies involved. | They added police should have considered the length of time Mr Fletcher was kept in restraints and concluded there was a "gross failure" in training across all agencies involved. |
| The inquest heard how, under a joint policy between police and East Midlands Ambulance Service, officers at the scene should have called for an ambulance. | The inquest heard how, under a joint policy between police and East Midlands Ambulance Service, officers at the scene should have called for an ambulance. |
| However, an ambulance was not called for until after the initial period of restraint. | However, an ambulance was not called for until after the initial period of restraint. |
| Police giving evidence at the inquest told the jury they were unaware of the policy. | Police giving evidence at the inquest told the jury they were unaware of the policy. |
| 'Still fighting for answers' | 'Still fighting for answers' |
| Mr Ameyaw said he was comforted by the jury's findings and felt they had seen what had happened "the way [he] saw it". | Mr Ameyaw said he was comforted by the jury's findings and felt they had seen what had happened "the way [he] saw it". |
| The 49-year-old added: "After my son passed, we had no choice but to put our faith in the IOPC. | The 49-year-old added: "After my son passed, we had no choice but to put our faith in the IOPC. |
| "They came and met with us as a family. They came to our home and they assured us that they were going to do a thorough investigation. | "They came and met with us as a family. They came to our home and they assured us that they were going to do a thorough investigation. |
| "They were the ones that had access to the body-worn footage, they were the ones that were going to give us the answers." | "They were the ones that had access to the body-worn footage, they were the ones that were going to give us the answers." |
| But Mr Ameyaw said: "As a family we are still fighting for answers and it's very difficult." | But Mr Ameyaw said: "As a family we are still fighting for answers and it's very difficult." |
| Derrick Campbell, IOPC regional director, said: "We have acknowledged the narrative verdict returned by the inquest jury and respect their findings. | Derrick Campbell, IOPC regional director, said: "We have acknowledged the narrative verdict returned by the inquest jury and respect their findings. |
| "I reiterate my deepest sympathies for Kaine's family and friends for their loss. This is a truly tragic case in which a young man lost his life. | "I reiterate my deepest sympathies for Kaine's family and friends for their loss. This is a truly tragic case in which a young man lost his life. |
| "Our investigation involved a detailed examination of the evidence, including calls made to police, police incident logs, police radio communication, police officers' body worn video, officers' training records, CCTV, and medical reports. | "Our investigation involved a detailed examination of the evidence, including calls made to police, police incident logs, police radio communication, police officers' body worn video, officers' training records, CCTV, and medical reports. |
| "We also obtained witness accounts from all parties involved, including independent witnesses, police officers, and ambulance staff." | "We also obtained witness accounts from all parties involved, including independent witnesses, police officers, and ambulance staff." |
| Nottinghamshire Police previously said it would reflect on the findings the coroner made and continued to take "all the necessary steps to keep the public and our workforce safe". | Nottinghamshire Police previously said it would reflect on the findings the coroner made and continued to take "all the necessary steps to keep the public and our workforce safe". |
| If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. | If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. |
| Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |