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Our investigation following the death of Mark Tildsley in Stockport, found Greater Manchester Police (GMP) acted appropriately. 

We have waited until after the inquest into Mr Tildsley’s death before announcing our findings. HM Coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide. 

Our independent investigation, completed in October 2017, looked at the contact between GMP and Mr Tildsley after an allegation was made that he was exposing himself on Hall Street, near Offerton, on 7 June 2017. 

Officers attended his address to arrest him but there was no reply, and three further attempts were made over the following days. 

Captured entirely on three separate body worn video cameras, another arrest attempt was made on 22 June.  Having concerns for his welfare, officers made the decision to force entry to Mr Tildsley’s home, where he was found to be harming himself with a knife. Officers provided first aid in an attempt to save his life and paramedics attended the scene but he later died in hospital.

The GMP officers involved in the incident were treated as witnesses throughout the investigation. Evidence also included detailed statements from the officers and police logs. 

We found GMP made attempts to arrest Mr Tildsley between 7 and 22 June, and we didn’t find any evidence to suggest that the officers’ actions on 22 June could have caused or contributed to his death. 

IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe said: “Our investigation highlighted the importance of body worn video which, in this case, provided clear and independent evidence of what happened on 22 June 2017. Our work was completed in good time, and gathered detailed evidence in order to establish what contact Greater Manchester Police had with Mark Tildsley. The officers involved gave clear accounts of their actions including the attempts to save his life. This must have been a fast-moving and traumatic incident to deal with.”