IPCC probe after man blinded himself at Mansfield Police Station

Police in Mansfield are to face a formal investigation after a man blinded himself in a police cell in the town.

The man, who has not been named, was being held at Mansfield Police Station following his arrest in the town in July and an investigation has subsequently been launched by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The man was then taken to hospital with self-inflicted facial injures that left him blind in one eye, a Nottinghamshire Police spokesman confirmed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “This man has suffered life-changing injuries and we will be conducting a thorough investigation to establish whether the contact he had with Nottinghamshire Police was appropriate and the care he received sufficient.

“We will be looking to interview those officers and medical staff involved, and view any CCTV footage available to help our investigation.”

Officers attended Newcastle Street in Mansfield on the evening of 13th July, where they arrested the man and took him to the custody suite at Mansfield Police Station.

At around 9.15pm on 14th July, an ambulance arrived at the custody suite after the man self-inflicted facial injuries which left him blind in one eye, police said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The force referred a complaint from the man’s family to the IPCC, which has decided to conduct an independent investigation that will look at the man’s arrest and the care provided during detention.

It will also examine whether any other options than custody were available to Nottinghamshire Police during the relevant period.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: “The force referred this incident to the IPCC after a complaint from the man’s family. We will as always cooperate with the IPCC’s independent investigation.”

Related topics: