Adam Rice
3 Mar 2016 · Coroner David Hinchliff · West Yorkshire (East)
The coroner's concerns
1. patient self-discharge leading to police involvement and custody
“When a patient seif-discharges against medical advice and it is known or it is highly likely that the Police will immediately thereafter become involved and it can be foreseen that the patient will be taken into Custody”
2. inadequate custody staff training on legal frameworks
“To ensure that Custody staff to which | mean Police Officers of all ranks, Civilian Detention Officers and Nursing staff have a full and comprehensive knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and the relevant Codes of Practice and the relevant provisions of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice Provisions in respect of Detention and Custody and Custody Management Planning”
3. substandard recruitment of custody staff
“Planning. 2. That West Yorkshire Police only recruit Custody staff of the highest calibre to carry out this vital role involving some of the most vulnerable members of society.”
4. insufficient staffing during peak demand periods
“To ensure that there are adequate staffing levels of all ranks and grades to fulfil this vital role particularly during periods of high demand when it is known that Custody facilities will be extremely busy and in particular on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”
5. lack of contingency staffing for custody duties
“To ensure that they have a bank of staff who might ordinarily be engaged in other duties but who are trained and have experience in Custody work who can be drafted in at short notice during such periods of high demand when it becomes obvious that the existing staff cannot cope with the demands being placed upon them”