Avon and Somerset Police missed a number of opportunities to help a young man with mental health problems.
James Herbert, 25, was arrested in 2010. The police knew he was ill and instead of providing medical treatment, James was arrested, restrained with handcuffs and leg restraints and the left naked in a cell. Unfortunately he suffered a cardiac arrest and subsequently died in hospital
An IPCC report called “six missed chances” highlighted a series of failings.
If the officers had acted differently the outcome would have been very different.
Kulvinder Gill, solicitor at Howells who represents families whose loved ones have died in custody said:
“This is a very tragic case. James was a vulnerable individual who required urgent medical assistance. He should not have been arrested and treated in the way he was. This is a tragic loss of life and completely unnecessary.
Press links to the case:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/21/police-missed-multiple-chances-help-james-herbert-died-cell-ipcc
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-41334669
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