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| Family of man who died in custody demands answers over police restraint | Family of man who died in custody demands answers over police restraint |
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| The family of a 32-year-old man who died in police custody after being restrained using a specially made emergency belt have criticised authorities for a "lack of compassion". | The family of a 32-year-old man who died in police custody after being restrained using a specially made emergency belt have criticised authorities for a "lack of compassion". |
| Thomas Orchard was arrested by Devon and Cornwall police and taken into custody on suspicion of a public order offence in October 2012. Orchard, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, later died in hospital after becoming unresponsive while in a police cell. | Thomas Orchard was arrested by Devon and Cornwall police and taken into custody on suspicion of a public order offence in October 2012. Orchard, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, later died in hospital after becoming unresponsive while in a police cell. |
| According to a Channel 4 News investigation, during Orchard's detention, a seven-inch wide "emergency response belt" was placed on or around his face in order to stop him spitting or biting. The padded belt is designed to be used to restrain the upper body. | According to a Channel 4 News investigation, during Orchard's detention, a seven-inch wide "emergency response belt" was placed on or around his face in order to stop him spitting or biting. The padded belt is designed to be used to restrain the upper body. |
| Speaking a year after his son's death, Ken Orchard said the family had had to wait seven months before their son's body was finally returned for burial. "As a family grieving the loss of Thomas, we feel that there has been a lack of compassion from the powers that be," he said. | |
| He said it was agony and that his family were "really struggling to get any closure" after failing to receive answers as to how his son died. | He said it was agony and that his family were "really struggling to get any closure" after failing to receive answers as to how his son died. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the death, has told the family it could be many years yet before its investigation is completed. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the death, has told the family it could be many years yet before its investigation is completed. |
| The family have also been told that CCTV footage recording the restraint incident is very distressing, but have not yet been allowed to view it. | |
| "An emergency restraint belt was applied. We don't know why or how fully it was applied. We have massive concerns about its use and we continue to ask questions of the IPCC and the CPS, " Thomas's sister Jo told Channel 4. | |
| "We've lost Thomas under horrible, horrible circumstances … at this point we just need answers," she added. | |
| Deborah Coles, co-director of the charity Inquest, said Devon and Cornwall constabulary had to be held accountable for their actions. "The police at an individual and corporate level must be held accountable for the exercise of their powers. Nowhere is this more important than where a vulnerable citizen dies in their custody following the use of force. | |
| "Questions must be asked about the use of the ERB [emergency response belt], who sanctioned it and what monitoring and regulation of its use took place." | "Questions must be asked about the use of the ERB [emergency response belt], who sanctioned it and what monitoring and regulation of its use took place." |
| Commenting more widely on police action over mental health in the community, Sir Peter Fahy, the chief constable of greater Manchester police, said deaths in custody occurred because his officers were not trained to deal with mental health issues. | Commenting more widely on police action over mental health in the community, Sir Peter Fahy, the chief constable of greater Manchester police, said deaths in custody occurred because his officers were not trained to deal with mental health issues. |
| Speaking on Radio 4 on Monday, Fahy, one of Britain's most senior police chiefs, said: "A lot of the deaths in custody are because … people who have got mental illness are totally inappropriately taken to police stations. That's often when tragedies occur. | Speaking on Radio 4 on Monday, Fahy, one of Britain's most senior police chiefs, said: "A lot of the deaths in custody are because … people who have got mental illness are totally inappropriately taken to police stations. That's often when tragedies occur. |
| "We need to fundamentally change the way that we actually address this wider issue about the number of ill people we take to police stations," said Fahy, adding that society should try to "move away from the Victorian idea almost that people with mental illness are bad". | "We need to fundamentally change the way that we actually address this wider issue about the number of ill people we take to police stations," said Fahy, adding that society should try to "move away from the Victorian idea almost that people with mental illness are bad". |
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