Inquest into 38-year-old who was found dead in back of police van parked outside Royal Blackburn Hospital A&E
An inquest into the death of a 38-year-old man who was found dead in the back of a police van parked outside A&E will open this week.
Lancashire Police were called to an incident involving a man who ‘refused to leave a cinema’ at Holmes Mill in Clitheroe around midnight on July 11 last year.
Officers arrested Stevie Brown and the 38-year-old from Burnley was detained under the Mental Health Act.
He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was initially treated in A&E. But officers said his “behaviour deteriorated” and they placed him back in the police van parked outside the emergency department.
Mr Brown was found unresponsive the following morning at 6.35am. Medical staff began CPR and tried to resuscitate him for an hour before a clinical decision was made to cease and he was declared dead.
Lancashire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and an independent investigation was launched to fully establish the circumstances of Mr Brown’s death in police custody.
Stevie's family, assisted by Ison Harrison Solicitors, criticised the way in which the IOPC appealed for witnesses to come forward and have “demanded answers”
Following his death, the family - speaking through their solicitors - said: "The IOPC has stated that police officers made certain checks on Stevie prior to his death, yet they are unable to confirm these actions until their investigation is complete.
“This contradiction raises serious concerns about the transparency and independence of the IOPC’s investigation.
"For an organisation tasked with holding the police to account, it is unacceptable to make public assertions that appear to support the police narrative while those facts are still under investigation.
“This approach undermines public confidence and, more importantly, adds to the distress of a grieving family seeking truth and accountability.
"The IOPC has faced ongoing criticism in recent years for its failure to demonstrate true independence from the police. Sadly, this latest appeal only reinforces those concerns.
"We urge the IOPC to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation – one that prioritises the facts over assumptions and respects the rights of families like ours to seek justice without bias or delay."
An inquest into Stevie's death is due to open at Preston Coroners' Court on Thursday (March 19).