Recommendations - National Police Chiefs' Council, December 2024

The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) should review the processes through which the Flexible Lift and Carry System (FLACS) and other operational equipment are introduced and reviewed and ensure these are aligned with the most recent medical and professional guidance.

This follows an IOPC investigation where a man, who had been arrested by Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers, was taken to hospital after he had swallowed a large quantity of tablets and appeared unwell. The man remained under police guard while in hospital.

When he was discharged from hospital, he appeared non-compliant and was physically restrained by two officers. Handcuffs and limb restraints were applied. Hospital staff assisted in the restraint at various intervals.

The officers called for support and an additional three officers arrived at the hospital with a police van. The man was restrained in the prone position by police for a prolonged period before the FLACS was applied to the man. This equipment is designed as a soft stretcher and aids the removal or evacuation of a subject.

The man was transported using the FLACS to a police van. Upon being placed into the van, officers noticed that the man was unresponsive. The man was removed from the van, and officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The man was taken back to the hospital where he was resuscitated and placed in an induced coma. The man’s condition deteriorated over the following days and the man sadly died.

During our investigation, we identified that the process through which the FLACS was introduced was not robust. The medical opinion obtained in relation to the FLACS appears to have been commissioned by the company which produces FLACS.

The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) should undertake medical testing of the Flexible Lift and Carry System (FLACS) independent of the manufacturer. This should include testing of whether the FLACS can be safely used after a period of restraint and/or prone restraint and whether the person’s neck/windpipe can be suitably supported during transportation.

This follows an IOPC investigation where a man, who had been arrested by Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers, was taken to hospital after he had swallowed a large quantity of tablets and appeared unwell. The man remained under police guard while in hospital. When he was discharged from hospital, he appeared non-compliant and was physically restrained by two officers. Handcuffs and limb restraints were applied. Hospital staff assisted in the restraint at various intervals.

The officers called for support and an additional three officers arrived at the hospital with a police van. The man was restrained in the prone position by police for a prolonged period before the FLACS was applied to the man. This equipment is designed as a soft stretcher and aids the removal or evacuation of a subject.

The man was transported using the FLACS to a police van. Upon being placed into the van, officers noticed that the man was unresponsive. The man was removed from the van, and officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The man was taken back to the hospital where he was resuscitated and placed in an induced coma. The man’s condition deteriorated over the following days and the man sadly died.

During our investigation, the NPCC highlighted medical opinion that FLACS posed no risk to a subject’s neck/windpipe. However, medical opinion appears to have been commissioned by the company which produces FLACS.

The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing work together to review and update guidance on the use of the Flexible Lift and Carry System (FLACS) following completion of the medical testing recommended in 2021/148339/003.

The updated guidance should also highlight that any individual to be moved in the FLACS will have been briefly in the prone position prior to its application.

This follows an IOPC investigation where a man, who had been arrested by Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers, was taken to hospital after he had swallowed a large quantity of tablets and appeared unwell. The man remained under police guard while in hospital. When he was discharged from hospital, he appeared non-compliant and was physically restrained by two officers. Handcuffs and limb restraints were applied. Hospital staff assisted in the restraint at various intervals.

The officers called for support and an additional three officers arrived at the hospital with a police van. The man was restrained in the prone position by police for a prolonged period before the FLACS was applied to him. This equipment is designed as a soft stretcher and aids the removal or evacuation of a subject.

The man was transported using the FLACS to a police van. Upon being placed into the van, officers noticed that the man was unresponsive. The man was removed from the van, and officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The man was taken back to the hospital where he was resuscitated and placed in an induced coma. The man’s condition deteriorated over the following days and the man sadly died.

The IOPC has recommended in 2021/148339/003 that the NPCC undertake medical testing of the FLACS independent of the manufacturer. Following completion of this medical testing, the IOPC is of the opinion that the guidance should be updated to reflect the findings. In addition, guidance on the use of FLACS should highlight that any individual to be moved in the FLACS will have been briefly in the prone position and that, although not intended as restraint equipment, the risks associated with restraint are still present.

The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) requires all forces to ensure they have mechanisms for recording the use of Flexible Lift and Carry Systems (FLACS), and similar manual handling devices, thereby providing a clear auditable process which forces can use to monitor the effectiveness of this equipment.

This follows an IOPC investigation where a man, who had been arrested by Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers, was taken to hospital after he had swallowed a large quantity of tablets and appeared unwell. The man remained under police guard while in hospital. When he was discharged from hospital, he appeared non-compliant and was physically restrained by two officers. Handcuffs and limb restraints were applied. Hospital staff assisted in the restraint at various intervals.

The officers called for support and an additional three officers arrived at the hospital with a police van. The man was restrained in the prone position by police for a prolonged period before a FLACS was applied to the man. This equipment is designed as a soft stretcher and aids the removal or evacuation of a subject.

The man was transported using the FLACS to a police van. Upon being placed into the van, officers noticed that the man was unresponsive. The man was removed from the van, and officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The man was taken back to the hospital where he was resuscitated and placed in an induced coma. The man’s condition deteriorated over the following days and the man sadly died.

The IOPC investigation identified that two of four police forces using the FLACS had no means of recording its use or effectiveness. It is recognised that other police forces may use similar devices that serve the same purpose as the FLACS, and the use of these devices and their effectiveness should also be recorded.