Hywel Hughes
2 Jul 2014 · Coroner Karon Monaghan · North West Wales
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of guidance on snoring significance in positional asphyxia
“The training on positional asphyxia presently provided to police officers by the North Wales Police Force does not include guidance on the significance of 'snoring' and in particular that it is not inconsistent with deep unconsciousness and obstruction to breathing”
2. Perspex screen obstructing detainee monitoring
“The design of the 'bubble cars' in existence at the time of Mr [name redacted]' death and apparently still in use pending their phasing out, is such that the condition of a detainee held in the rear of the vehicle may not be easily monitored (because of the presence of a | Perspex screen that may affect the ability to see and hear a detainee)”
3. lack of SIA review of restraint-related deaths
“The SIA does not undertake any review or inquiry into those deaths indicated by Inquest or criminal findings to be related to restraint by door supervisors to determine whether there are any lessons to be learnt in so far as their licensing or other responsibilities are concerned”
4. training standards omit restraint and asphyxia dangers
“The SIA's standards of conduct, training and levels of supervision issued pursuant to their statutory responsibilities under section 1(2)(e) of the 2001 Act, namely the "Specification for Leaming and Qualifications for Door Supervisors" (Feb 2010) and the "Specifications for Learning and Qualifications for Physical Intervention Skills" (Aug 2010), do not include a requirement for training or knowledge on the dangers inherent in restraint, specific modes of restraint, positional asphyxia or traumatic”
5. asphyxia training not integrated with restraint training
“The mandatory training that door supervisors are required to undertake as a condition of the award of a licence by the SIA does not integrate training on asphyxia into the training on restraint (it is addressed by a limited and discrete element)”
6. no first aid requirement for door supervisors
“The licensing requirements for door supervisors do not include a requirement for a first aid qualification”