Man dies in police custody at Middlesbrough station

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 6 Nov, 17:27 · Archive

A 31-year-old man died at Middlesbrough Police Station after being found unresponsive in his cell on Thursday morning.

A 31-year-old man died at Middlesbrough Police Station on Thursday morning after being found unresponsive in his cell. Staff discovered him just before 6am, and paramedics were called at 5.59am. Despite efforts from emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at 7.01am.

The man had been arrested by Cleveland Police at 10pm on Wednesday evening and checked into custody shortly after. Custody detention staff had placed him on half-hourly checks, which is standard practice.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, declared an independent investigation at 7.07am following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. IOPC investigators were sent to the custody suite to begin reviewing evidence.

Cleveland Police said the circumstances surrounding the death are being established and that it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. The family of the deceased have been informed.

During the investigation, other detainees at Middlesbrough were transferred to Durham Police's custody cells under a mutual aid agreement. This arrangement has since been stood down, and Cleveland Police's usual custody arrangements are now in place. The IOPC said its investigation is at a very early stage and that it will provide updates in due course.

How it is being reported

• No evidence to suggest man who died in custody cell was 'being ignored' by staffThere is no evidence to suggest a man who died in a Middlesbrough police custody cell was “being ignored” by staff, a watchdog has said.The Northern Echo · 6 Nov, 16:27
• Man, 31, dies while in police custodyCleveland Police refers itself to the watchdog after the man died at Middlesbrough police station.BBC Tees · 6 Nov, 15:46
• Man, 31, dies at Middlesbrough Police Station hours after he was arrested sparking independent probeAn independent investigation is ongoing by the IOPC following the death of a detainee at Middlesbrough Police StationTeessideLive · 6 Nov, 10:34
• Man dies in police custody cell after being found unresponsive as probe launchedA man has died in custody at Middlesbrough Police Station after being found unresponsive by staff on Thursday morning.The Northern Echo · 6 Nov, 09:25

In this story: Middlesbrough Police Station · Cleveland Police · Independent Office for Police Conduct · Durham Police

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log