An investigation into complaints made about the treatment of a man with epilepsy - South Wales Police,
On 7 March 2020, a 19-year-old man and his family were visiting relatives in South Wales. The young man had severe epilepsy and psychosis and had recently been released from a specialist epilepsy hospital. During the family visit, he experienced a psychotic episode which led him to become distressed and aggressive towards his father. The man’s mother phoned for the police to attend, to take him to a place of safety. Two police officers arrested the man for assaulting his …
Recommendations
5 totalThe IOPC recommends SWP take steps to ensure police officers and custody staff are supported to identify and interact with people who have neurodiverse needs, including those with autism spectrum conditions. This should include consideration of the training and guidance officers and custody staff receive on neurodiversity and best practice on interacting with people who have neurodiverse needs.
Accepted: A working group has been created as a directive from the strategic lessons learned group. The working group is led by Custody Services, Superintendent Karl Eenmaa and consists of Chief Inspectors or equivalent representatives from Custody, PPU and Learning and Development. The working group is currently progressing work in relation to:• Identifying the availability and provision of neurodiversity training within the organisation and any additional training needs.• Environmental changes that may be considered in the custody environment, to comply with best practice around custody estates and neurodiversity needs• Communications issued to custody staff, officers and healthcare practitioners around identifying neurodiverse needs and allocation of AA if required• Communications issued to Custody Staff, officers and Healthcare practitioners around identification of medication recording in property and earlier access to HCP• Refreshing the crime before capacity messaging. These are longer term pieces of work with an update on progress expected at the next meeting in March 23.
The IOPC recommends SWP consider how the custody environment can best support detainees with neurodiverse needs. This should include consideration of what adjustments can be made to the custody estate to achieve this.
Accepted: A working group has been created as a directive from the strategic lessons learned group. The working group is led by Custody Services, Superintendent Karl Eenmaa and consists of Chief Inspectors or equivalent representatives from Custody, PPU and Learning and Development. The working group is currently progressing work in relation to:• Identifying the availability and provision of neurodiversity training within the organisation and any additional training needs.• Environmental changes that may be considered in the custody environment, to comply with best practice around custody estates and neurodiversity needs• Communications issued to custody staff, officers and healthcare practitioners around identifying neurodiverse needs and allocation of AA if required• Communications issued to Custody Staff, officers and Healthcare practitioners around identification of medication recording in property and earlier access to HCP• Refreshing the crime before capacity messaging. These are longer term pieces of work with an update on progress expected at the next meeting in March 23.
The IOPC recommends SWP take steps to ensure custody staff, in particular custody officers and healthcare professionals, understand when detained persons require anAppropriate Adult. This should include consideration of: 1. Issuing communications to custody officers reminding them when a detainee should be treated as vulnerable and therefore requires an Appropriate Adult.2. Providing refresher training on the legislation and national guidance regarding the provision of Appropriate Adults.
Accepted: A working group has been created as a directive from the strategic lessons learned group. The working group is led by Custody Services, Superintendent Karl Eenmaa and consists of Chief Inspectors or equivalent representatives from Custody, PPU and Learning and Development. The working group is currently progressing work in relation to:• Identifying the availability and provision of neurodiversity training within the organisation and any additional training needs.• Environmental changes that may be considered in the custody environment, to comply with best practice around custody estates and neurodiversity needs• Communications issued to custody staff, officers and healthcare practitioners around identifying neurodiverse needs and allocation of AA if required• Communications issued to Custody Staff, officers and Healthcare practitioners around identification of medication recording in property and earlier access to HCP• Refreshing the crime before capacity messaging. These are longer term pieces of work with an update on progress expected at the next meeting in March 23.
The IOPC recommends SWP take steps to ensure that when a detainee is brought into custody: 1. the custody officer makes sure appropriate enquiries are undertaken to confirm whether the detainee has any medical conditions and, if so, whetherthe detainee is taking any medication for these conditions.2. the custody officer makes sure appropriate enquiries are undertaken to confirm when the detainee is next due to be administered their medication;And:3. information about when a detainee is next due to be administered their medication is recorded and shared with the custody officer and relevanthealthcare professional.
Accepted: A working group has been created as a directive from the strategic lessons learned group. The working group is led by Custody Services, Superintendent Karl Eenmaa and consists of Chief Inspectors or equivalent representatives from Custody, PPU and Learning and Development. The working group is currently progressing work in relation to:• Identifying the availability and provision of neurodiversity training within the organisation and any additional training needs.• Environmental changes that may be considered in the custody environment, to comply with best practice around custody estates and neurodiversity needs• Communications issued to custody staff, officers and healthcare practitioners around identifying neurodiverse needs and allocation of AA if required• Communications issued to Custody Staff, officers and Healthcare practitioners around identification of medication recording in property and earlier access to HCP• Refreshing the crime before capacity messaging. These are longer term pieces of work with an update on progress expected at the next meeting in March 23.
The IOPC recommends SWP consider using this incident as an anonymised case study to promote learningamong officers. This should include consideration of: 1. how officers responded to this incident; and 2. explore (drawing upon best practice) what alternative actions could be taken to achieve the best possible outcome when officers respond to similar incidents in the future.
Accepted:A new officer safety training scenario has been prepared and delivered. The scenario which utilises the principles of LEAPS and BUGEES is designed to assist officers in communicating with an individual, who is, or may be neurodivergent. The officers response to the scenario impacts on the outcome allowing officers to explore communication techniques and reflect. This new scenario was introduced in January 2022 and has been well received.