WIREDGOV

Following an independent IPCC investigation into the death of a man who died in hospital after being arrested in 2012, the IPCC has told Merseyside Police it should review its training so that officers are better equipped to spot the signs of what national police guidance describes as Acute Behavioural Disorder and is sometimes referred to as ‘excited delirium’.

Although the investigation into the death of Antony Hughes found no misconduct issues for individual officers it did reveal the force’s training in relation to caring for people displaying symptoms of this condition was inadequate or inefficient.

Witnesses described Mr Hughes, 27, as foaming at the mouth, shouting, running in and out of traffic and trying to gain access to houses in East Prescot Road in Liverpool before he was arrested on 28 February 2012.

He was displaying symptoms described in the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)/Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) Personal Safety Manual as requiring action by officers to treat the matter as a medical emergency requiring hospital intervention but none of the officers recognised them.

The officers used force to restrain Mr Hughes for his own safety, before he was placed or fell on the ground* and handcuffed while a search was carried out. He was then put in the recovery position.

After being examined by paramedics at the scene, while still handcuffed, he was placed in an ambulance. His condition deteriorated in the ambulance and he was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A post mortem examination gave the cause of death as ‘cocaine toxicity with excited delirium’ and an inquest at Liverpool Coroner’s Court on 2 December 2013 concluded Mr Hughes died of a drug-related death.

Although the police officers did not recognise the symptoms Mr Hughes’ exhibited on the day, the way they handled him in terms of placing him in the recovery position and summoning medical help was found to be inline with NPIA guidance.

On that basis, and considering the information the officers had at the time, the IPCC found that the use of force used on Mr Hughes was reasonable and that there was no case to answer for misconduct in respect of any of the police officers.

The IPCC recommended Merseyside Police review its training in this area to ensure there is emphasis on what officers should do to respond to the symptoms Mr Hughes showed.

IPCC Commissioner James Dipple-Johnstone said:

"I would like to express my sympathies to the family of Mr Hughes after what will have been an enormously difficult time for them. Although the way the officers dealt with Mr Hughes turned out to be correct, their training did not support them in recognising what they were dealing with and what they should do.

"Considering the dangers facing people being detained under these circumstances it is vital that police officers know and understand what it is they are dealing with. The IPCC recommends Merseyside Police take action to address this issue so that officers on the ground are as well equipped as they can be to deal with people safely.”

Editor’s notes

*There was inconsistency from witness accounts as to how this happened but the majority of evidence suggested Mr Hughes fell to the ground rather than being placed there by officers.