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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release 1 July 2010
HIGHLY CRITICAL JURY VERDICT CONDEMNS POLICE NEGLECT AS
CONTRIBUTING TO DEATH OF PAUL DAVIES
The jury at the inquest into the death of 42 year old Paul Davies yesterday returned a critical
verdict finding that lack of proper police briefing and training contributed to his death.
A previous inquest in 2009 had to be stopped for fear of bias when a member of the jury
made a robust condemnation of the police’s actions. The new inquest opened on 21 June
before HM Coroner Peter Maddox for Bridgend and the Glamorgan Valleys.
Paul Davies died on 28 September 2006 following an incident involving South Wales Police
two days earlier on 26 September when officers executed a search warrant at Paul's home
address. Whilst Paul was under the watch of one of the officers he placed a small plastic bag
of amphetamines in his mouth.
Officers attempted to get Paul to remove the package from his mouth. The package became
lodged in his airway and he collapsed. CPR was carried out and an ambulance was called.
Paramedics worked on Paul for a period of time before taking him to Neath Port Talbot
Hospital, and he was later transferred to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend where
the blockage was removed as there were no facilities to remove the blockage at Neath Port
Talbot. Paul never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 12.25am on 28
September 2006.
The jury were highly critical of the police, finding a “gross failure of the intelligence systems
in place at the time” which lead to inadequate briefing of those officers attending the scene.
Most seriously, the jury were critical of the lack of training provided to officers for the
forced search and control and restraint of a detained person who had placed an item in their
mouth. The jury concluded that Paul Davies’ death was contributed to by police neglect.
The coroner indicated that he intends to issue a rule 43 report dealing with training for
officers in circumstances where a person places an item in their mouth and first aid training
for choking situations. His report will be sent to the Chief Constable of South Wales Police,
the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Ministry of Justice and the National
Police Improvement Agency (NPIA).
Gemma Vine, solicitor for the family, said:
The family are extremely happy with the verdict and are relieved that they can now
move forward as they now have justice for Paul.
WINNER OF THE LONGFORD PRIZE 2009
JOINT WINNER LIBERTY/JUSTICE HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2007
CAMPAIGN FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AWARD WINNER 1999
Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST, said:
This is not the first time a coroner and jury have commented on the inadequacy of
police training following deaths in similar circumstances. It is vital that the issues
raised in this case are considered at both a local and national level to ensure others do
not die in similarly avoidable circumstances.
The full text of the jury's narrative verdict reads:
Narrative
At 12.25am on 28th September 2006 the deceased was pronounced dead at
the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend.
On 26th September 2006 between 7.30am and 7.42am the deceased Paul
Stephen Davies swallowed a package which became lodged in his airway
(at an indeterminate point within this time range) during the execution of a drugs
warrant at [HOME ADDRESS REDACTED].
The briefing was inadequate due to the gross failure of the intelligence systems in
place at the time.
There was a lack of training provided to officers for;
A) the forced search of the mouth of a detained person in a
non-custodial setting;
B) the control and restraint of a detained person in circumstances
where an item is seen to be placed in the mouth.
Paul Stephen Davies was not adequately controlled or monitored in the
sitting room when officers arrived at [HOME ADDRESS REDACTED].
Appropriate and timely action was taken by officers in seeking medical
assistance for Paul Stephen Davies.
Conclusion
Paul Stephen Davies died as a result of an accident and the cause of death was
contributed to by neglect.
Paul Davies’ family was represented at the inquest by INQUEST Lawyers Group members
barrister Sean Horstead of Garden Court Chambers instructed by Gemma Vine of Farleys
Solicitors.
Further Information
Victoria McNally, Caseworker, INQUEST
Gemma Vine, Farleys Solicitors
www.inquest.org.uk
office 020 7263 1111
office 01254 606 060
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Notes to editors:
INQUEST is the only organisation in England and Wales that provides a specialist, comprehensive advice
service on contentious deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, other advice and support
agencies, the media, parliamentarians and the wider public. Its casework priorities are deaths in prison and in
police custody, in immigration detention and in secure training centres. INQUEST develops policy proposals
and undertakes research to campaign for changes to the inquest and investigation process, reduce the number
of custodial deaths, and improve the treatment and care of those within the institutions where the deaths
occur.
INQUEST is represented on the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody and the Ministry of Justice Coroner
Service Stakeholder Forum.
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