Orchard family 'failed' by hearing outcome

Misconduct hearings against four officers involved in the detaining of Thomas Orchard were dropped

Four officers have had their misconduct hearings dropped, following the death of an Exeter man in police custody in 2012.

An emergency response belt was placed over Thomas Orchard's mouth following his arrest in the city, at Heavitree Road station. He died a week later.

Devon and Cornwall Police previously admitted breaching health and safety rules and were fined over £230,000.

Thomas’ parents Ken and Alison Orchard said they felt "failed beyond belief".

Ken Orchard added: "I'm not so much concerned with seeing these individual officers prosecuted, I just want to see that proper investigation is done into this sort of incident. I just want to see that somebody takes responsibility."

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: “I accept the decision made by the independent panel. Matters relating to the case are not over yet and there are still ongoing IOPC directed misconduct proceedings against two police staff.

“This was an IOPC directed hearing against the representations of the force.

“Chief Constable James Vaughan of Dorset Police, who acted as the Appropriate Authority, will be asking the IOPC to review the police staff misconduct direction in light of today’s announcement.

“The IOPC were the investigators in this case and therefore the force and Appropriate Authority have only been able to consider the material that was disclosed to us by them.

“I understand the significant impact of this long-running matter on the officers, staff, and their families, and of course the family of Thomas Orchard.

Proceedings against two other officers are continuing.