20 August 2008

IPCC to investigate a near miss in North Wales Police custody

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is independently investigating a recent case where the man arrested and held in North Wales Police custody attempted to take his own life.

The man was arrested and taken to Caernarfon Police station where his detention was authorised.

It appears that the man was visited in his cells by officers during his detention. During one of these visits the custody record notes that the male was found collapsed with a ligature round his neck.

It appears that police officers successfully administered first aid using oxygen. An ambulance was called and he was subsequently taken to hospital where he recovered.

As part of the investigation the cell was secured and crime scene investigators attended and photographed the scene. A number of relevant items were seized, including custody CCTV tape.

IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies said: This was a potentially life-threatening situation and the IPCC will therefore investigate this independently.

The man has made a full recovery, but I want our investigators to look at what happened and report to me. I have tasked them to look at whether there is any individual and organisational learning from this incident.”

The IPCC will not be releasing the name of the man involved in this incident.

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Notes for editors

  • The IPCC has overall responsibility for the police complaints system. Since April 2006 it has taken on responsibility for similar, serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in England and Wales. The IPCC’s jurisdiction was extended in 2008 to cover UK Border Agency staff exercising police-like powers.
  • The IPCC has the task of increasing public confidence in the complaint systems and aims to make investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.
  • The 15 Commissioners who run the IPCC guarantee its independence and by law can never have served as police officers. No Commissioner has worked for HM Revenue and Customs. They are supported by more than 100 independent IPCC investigators plus casework managers and other specialists.
  • Since April 1 2004 the IPCC has used its powers to begin 264 independent and 663 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police and other agencies. It has set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. The Commission also handles appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.
  • The IPCC is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves. Its Commissioners and staff are based in IPCC regional offices in Cardiff, Coalville, London and Sale plus a sub office in Wakefield.
  • The IPCC web site is constantly updated at www.ipcc.gov.uk or members of the public can contact the IPCC on 08453 002 002.

For further information please contact:

Regional Communications Officer David Nicholson on 02920 245464/07717 851 223. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries would journalists please call the IPCC duty press officer on 07717 851 157.