Force urged to review detainees’ clothing arrangement

The police watchdog has suggested the force adopt guidelines when seizing arrested peoples’ clothes as evidence, after looking into a substantiated complaint involving a man who died from pneumonia after he was denied warmer clothing during detention.

The Independent Police Complaints Council said in its annual report 2020-2021 that the police had arrested the man on suspicion of possessing a dangerous drug, and a station sergeant gave him a pair of shorts after taking away his trousers.

It added a police constable had only accepted a jacket provided by the detainee’s family, while rejecting a shirt and a pair of jeans without explaining why.

The council said the man was admitted to hospital the same day he was released on court bail, and died two days later from pneumonia. It said his daughter believed the man’s death might have been caused by the police’s failure to provide him with adequate clothing while in custody.

The watchdog said investigation showed the sergeant did not make any effort to provide equivalent clothing to the man after seizing his trousers, and the constable should have sought advice before deciding whether to accept clothing provided by the detainee’s family.

It said it had recommended the force to devise guidelines so as to replace essential garment for arrested people, and consider keeping spare clothes in its stations.

It said the police have agreed to review existing arrangements.