IOPC investigation finds police use of force was reasonable prior to death of Derbyshire detainee
Factual summary of a published IOPC investigation, covering the incident, key findings and outcome.
- Published
- 2023-02-08
- Investigation type
- independent
- Force involved
- Derbyshire Constabulary
What was investigated
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found Derbyshire Constabulary officers used reasonable force to restrain a man before he was found unresponsive in his cell and later died in hospital. The investigation identified potential failings in the way custody officers managed the welfare of the detainee after he was taken to custody.
Key findings
- The force used by officers was necessary, reasonable, and proportionate.
- There were potential failings in how the detainee was managed after being placed in a cell.
- A case to answer for misconduct was found for three custody sergeants regarding care planning.
- The officers did not properly assess the detainee's level of consciousness and vital signs.
- Two custody detention officers faced misconduct allegations for failing to establish their roles in the detainee's care.
Outcome
No proven allegations against the sergeants for professional standards violations. The detention officers faced management action for their roles.
Related on BlueLineHub
- Accountability hub — how oversight of UK policing works
- IOPC outcomes & learning feed
- Derbyshire Constabulary force profile
This is a factual summary of a report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Individuals are referred to exactly as the source report anonymises them. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the IOPC · Summarised 2026-07-13.