WIREDGOV

The IPCC is independently investigating Kent Police in relation to an incident which has left 38 year old Denby Collins in a coma. 
 
Kent Police were called to a house in Gillingham on 15 December 2013 at around 3.20 am after an emergency call from the residents. When officers arrived they found that at least one of the residents was restraining Mr Collins, who the police arrested as a suspected burglar and handcuffed. 
 
Mr Collins was unresponsive and the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended and Mr Collins was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital. 
 
In May 2014, Mr Collins was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney where he remains in a hypoxic coma. 
 
IPCC Commissioner Mary Cunneen said: 
 
"This is clearly a difficult time for Mr Collins family and I have offered to meet with them to explain our investigation. My decision to independently investigate follows an assessment of complaints we have received, on behalf of Mr Collins, against the available evidence. 
 
"Our investigation will examine the use of force, includingng handcuffs, by the officers who attended the scene, the intelligence and information provided to the two initial attending officers and whether the arrest of Mr Collins was justifiable in the circumstances as they presented themselves. We will also look at the first aid provided by the officers prior to the arrival of the ambulance service.” 
 
The IPCC also considered complaints from Mr Collins’ family relating to the alleged failures of Kent Police to investigate the injuries sustained by Mr Collins, the information they provided to his family after the incident and the actions and decisions of the police once Mr Collins was in hospital. The decision has been taken that these matters can be investigated by the Kent Police themselves. 
 
Kent Police referred the matter to the IPCC on 15 December 2013. IPCC investigators were immediately sent to Gillingham to carry out an initial assessment of the evidence available at that time.