Matthew Terrill
27 Mar 2024 · Coroner Alexandra Poutney · South Yorkshire West
The coroner's concerns
1. detainee intoxication without hospital referral
“Lack of training in the First Aid or Personal Safety courses for police officers in relation to recognising the signs and symptoms of drug intoxication. Specifically, how to recognise a drug overdose or the ill-effects of drug intoxication, and when it is appropriate for a detainee to be taken to hospital”
2. undetected mental health crisis in detainee
“Lack of training in First Aid or Personal Safety courses for police officers in relation to recognising the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions and acute mental health crisis. Specifically, when this may be impacting upon the behaviour of the detained person and whether they require medical assistance from a hospital”
3. positional asphyxia risk in intoxicated detainee
“Lack of training in First Aid or Personal Safety courses for police officers in relation to the heightened risk of positional asphyxia and intoxication”
4. inadequate constant observation compliance
“Lack of refresher or mandatory annual training for police officers in relation to constant observations”
5. critical health information omitted at transfer
“Lack of refresher or mandatory annual training for police officers in relation to information to be passed to the custody officers during the booking in procedure”
6. documentation gaps in supervision tracking
“Lack of safety net for custody suit documentation, specifically the constant supervision forms”
Responses
2024-0176-Response-from-South-Yorkshire-Police-and-Humberside-Police.pdf ↗· South Yorkshire Police Headquaters
Stated action · 6 May 2025
“South Yorkshire Police officers receive a 2-day initial First Aid course (MOD 2 initial) as part of their initial training and thereafter an annual 4 hour First Aid (Mod2 refresher) course. The MOD 2 initial is covered again over a 3-year cycle.”