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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff hits out over cell death | Sheriff hits out over cell death |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| A sheriff has called for an improvement in the way prisoners are monitored by police after the death of a man in a cell in Perth. | A sheriff has called for an improvement in the way prisoners are monitored by police after the death of a man in a cell in Perth. |
| A fatal accident inquiry has concluded George McLellan's death from drink and drugs in 2005 could have been avoided. | A fatal accident inquiry has concluded George McLellan's death from drink and drugs in 2005 could have been avoided. |
| Sheriff Robert McCreadie QC now wants a Scotland-wide system of caring for vulnerable people detained by police. | Sheriff Robert McCreadie QC now wants a Scotland-wide system of caring for vulnerable people detained by police. |
| A national review of the health and medical services provided for police custody has been ordered. | |
| Sheriff McCreadie's report also recommended a number of changes to Tayside Police procedures which "might prove to be a lifesaver". | Sheriff McCreadie's report also recommended a number of changes to Tayside Police procedures which "might prove to be a lifesaver". |
| The fatal accident inquiry heard Mr McLellan was taken to police headquarters in Perth following a disturbance at a pub in Crieff on 23 December 2005. | The fatal accident inquiry heard Mr McLellan was taken to police headquarters in Perth following a disturbance at a pub in Crieff on 23 December 2005. |
| The chronic alcoholic was supposed to be checked every half hour for a distinct verbal response after being classed as highly vulnerable. | The chronic alcoholic was supposed to be checked every half hour for a distinct verbal response after being classed as highly vulnerable. |
| Reasonable precautions | Reasonable precautions |
| He slipped into a coma and died in the early hours of Christmas Eve. | He slipped into a coma and died in the early hours of Christmas Eve. |
| The fatal accident inquiry heard that vital information about his condition had not been passed on during a staff handover. | The fatal accident inquiry heard that vital information about his condition had not been passed on during a staff handover. |
| He was checked once in a 90-minute period before his death, and staff accepted grunts as answers to their questions. | He was checked once in a 90-minute period before his death, and staff accepted grunts as answers to their questions. |
| Sheriff McCreadie stressed that the ultimate cause of Mr McLellan's death was drink and drugs and he had found no systemic defects in Tayside Police procedures. | Sheriff McCreadie stressed that the ultimate cause of Mr McLellan's death was drink and drugs and he had found no systemic defects in Tayside Police procedures. |
| However, he said "the reasonable precautions whereby his death might have been avoided" were a proper handover between duty officers and "timeous" visits to vulnerable prisoners. | However, he said "the reasonable precautions whereby his death might have been avoided" were a proper handover between duty officers and "timeous" visits to vulnerable prisoners. |
| A number of recommendations for consideration by the force have been made by the sheriff and many of these have already been implemented Tayside Police spokesman | A number of recommendations for consideration by the force have been made by the sheriff and many of these have already been implemented Tayside Police spokesman |
| He also raised concerns about weekend staffing levels in Perth, staff training and the force's Standard Operating Procedure, which he claimed was not written in plain English. | He also raised concerns about weekend staffing levels in Perth, staff training and the force's Standard Operating Procedure, which he claimed was not written in plain English. |
| Sheriff McCreadie called for a Scotland-wide system for the care of persons in police custody, which would include monitoring by medically qualified personnel and the availability of life-saving drugs and medical equipment in police stations. | Sheriff McCreadie called for a Scotland-wide system for the care of persons in police custody, which would include monitoring by medically qualified personnel and the availability of life-saving drugs and medical equipment in police stations. |
| Tayside Police said procedures had already been updated since Mr McLellan's death. | Tayside Police said procedures had already been updated since Mr McLellan's death. |
| A spokesman said: "It is acknowledged that a number of recommendations for consideration by the force have been made by the sheriff and many of these have already been implemented following our own internal review following the incident. | A spokesman said: "It is acknowledged that a number of recommendations for consideration by the force have been made by the sheriff and many of these have already been implemented following our own internal review following the incident. |
| "The remainder will now be considered as a matter of priority and any changes necessary implemented at the earliest juncture. | "The remainder will now be considered as a matter of priority and any changes necessary implemented at the earliest juncture. |
| The Scottish Executive said that a review into police custody had been ordered as a result of an increasing number of prisoners with medical and dependency issues. | |
| A spokesman said: "Every police force takes seriously the care needs of those held in their custody and this government is working with Acpos at a national level to review the range of healthcare and forensic medical services provided in police custody settings. | A spokesman said: "Every police force takes seriously the care needs of those held in their custody and this government is working with Acpos at a national level to review the range of healthcare and forensic medical services provided in police custody settings. |
| "We expect the review to last several months and a plan will be developed to ensure that appropriate services can be provided in police custody settings throughout Scotland." | "We expect the review to last several months and a plan will be developed to ensure that appropriate services can be provided in police custody settings throughout Scotland." |