Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Meirion James

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0460, written 4 Mar 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report4 Mar 2019
Reference2019-0460
DeceasedMeirion James
CoronerPaul Bennett
Coroner areaPembrokeshire & Camarthenshire
CategoryMental Health related deaths · State Custody related deaths · Wales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards)
Organisation namedWelsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

ANNEX A

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
| THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. The Chief Constable for Dyfed Powys Police
2. The National Police Chiefs’ Council
3. Hywel Dda Health Board

1 | CORONER

| am Paul Jonathan Bennett, assistant coroner, for the coroner area of Pembrokeshire &
Carmarthenshire

2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3. | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 5'" February 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of Meirion James
aged 53 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24th January
2019. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion in accordance with the
completed jury questionnaire which is appended to this report.

The medical cause of death was ‘a. Positional Asphyxia; 1b. due to restraint following
acute behavioural disturbance; 2. Obesity.

The deceased had been arrested for an assault on his mother and taken to
Haverfordwest Police station.

In the immediately preceding period, he had been detained under Section 136 of the
Mental Health Act 1983, following a roadside incident, but that fact had not been
adequately communicated to the Custody Staff at Aberystwyth Police Station nor the
medical staff at Bronglais hospital where he was taken as (a) place(s) of safety.

He was subsequently discharged without a mandatory mental health assessment when
he proceeded to commit the assault on his mother. While he was at Haverfordwest
Police station he became agitated and attempted to leave his cell. He was restrained by
police officers during the course of which he became located in the prone position on the
floor.

He subsequently stopped breathing and despite attempts to resuscitate him, he died
from positional asphyxia,

5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

| During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In

| my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.
The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

| (1) Whether the content of police training in dealing with restraint should be addressed
(2) Whether the criteria for identifying the most appropriate place of safety and the
responsibilities for transporting someone who is detained under Section 136 MHA 1983
should be reviewed
(3) Whether the content and frequency of police training on the status and
responsibilities of an Appropriate Adult under the Police & Criminal Evidence Act should
be reviewed.

6 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN a
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and ! believe you AND/OR
your organisation have the power to take such action.

7 YOUR RESPONSE ~
You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 1% May 2019. |, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

8 COPIES and PUBLICATION
| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following interested
Persons:-

4
2. The independent Office for Police Conduct;
3. CRG Medical Services:
| have also sent it to the Police & Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys and the Welsh
Ambulance Services NHS Trust who may find it useful or of interest.

| am aiso under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response,

1
The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

9

WM Wah 20%. GB

__| Patel [SIGNED BY CORONER]

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