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Avon and Somerset Police neglected cell death man | Avon and Somerset Police neglected cell death man |
(40 minutes later) | |
Failures by custody staff at Bath police station contributed directly to the death of a man found drunk in the street, an inquest has found. | Failures by custody staff at Bath police station contributed directly to the death of a man found drunk in the street, an inquest has found. |
Mark Graeme Read, 39, who was taken into custody for his own safety, choked to death on his own vomit. | Mark Graeme Read, 39, who was taken into custody for his own safety, choked to death on his own vomit. |
The jury at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court returned a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect. | The jury at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court returned a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect. |
Avon and Somerset Police said it had now implemented recommendations for improving its custody practice. | Avon and Somerset Police said it had now implemented recommendations for improving its custody practice. |
Mr Read, from Frome, in Somerset, had been out celebrating the birth of his seven-week-old daughter when he was arrested for being drunk in 2008. | Mr Read, from Frome, in Somerset, had been out celebrating the birth of his seven-week-old daughter when he was arrested for being drunk in 2008. |
Duty of care | Duty of care |
The jury had heard how, crucially, Mr Read was left lying on his back to sleep off his night out, not on his side in the recovery position. | The jury had heard how, crucially, Mr Read was left lying on his back to sleep off his night out, not on his side in the recovery position. |
During the inquest, police admitted detention officer Gary Hancock had not been given training on how to deal with intoxicated prisoners. | |
In its narrative verdict, the jury said that the police had a duty of care to Mr Read but he had not been properly taken care of. | |
Failures by the police contributed directly to Mr Read's death, the jury said. | Failures by the police contributed directly to Mr Read's death, the jury said. |
A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has also criticised the force. | A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has also criticised the force. |
It questioned the way custody suites were run and highlights a lax attitude towards people who are drunk. | |
IPCC Commissioner Rebecca Marsh said: "While I understand that it was Mr Read who decided to drink so much he was incapacitated, he was still owed a duty of care by the police service after he was arrested. | IPCC Commissioner Rebecca Marsh said: "While I understand that it was Mr Read who decided to drink so much he was incapacitated, he was still owed a duty of care by the police service after he was arrested. |
"We found an attitude best described as a 'let him sleep it off' approach to drunken individuals brought into custody. | "We found an attitude best described as a 'let him sleep it off' approach to drunken individuals brought into custody. |
Policy changed | Policy changed |
"Both the custody sergeant and the civilian detention officer dealing with Mr Read said they would not usually seek medical advice for a detainee who was 'only drunk'." | "Both the custody sergeant and the civilian detention officer dealing with Mr Read said they would not usually seek medical advice for a detainee who was 'only drunk'." |
The detention officer has been dealt with internally through management advice. | The detention officer has been dealt with internally through management advice. |
"Although misconduct was substantiated against the sergeant he retired from the force and therefore was not subject to the disciplinary process," said Comm Marsh. | |
Supt Mike Prior said the force had now changed its policy. | Supt Mike Prior said the force had now changed its policy. |
He said: "The IPCC made eight recommendations as a result of its investigation and these have been implemented. | He said: "The IPCC made eight recommendations as a result of its investigation and these have been implemented. |
"We will now carefully study the narrative verdict returned the jury and will consider any issues that the jury have identified that we have not already addressed. | "We will now carefully study the narrative verdict returned the jury and will consider any issues that the jury have identified that we have not already addressed. |
"Expert evidence heard during the inquest has described how extremely difficult it is to assess the medical needs of intoxicated people." | "Expert evidence heard during the inquest has described how extremely difficult it is to assess the medical needs of intoxicated people." |
Mr Read's family said they intend to bring a civil action for damages against the police. | Mr Read's family said they intend to bring a civil action for damages against the police. |
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