WIREDGOV

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found there was no indication that any of the officers who attended to a man walking in traffic breached the standards of professional behaviour.

Ryan Prince, 37, was reported to be walking in and out of traffic on the A264 near Pease Pottage at about 1.30pm on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

He was briefly restrained by a police officer who was driving past the scene. Additional officers arrived a few minutes later, gave emergency medical aid and called immediately for an ambulance. Mr Prince was taken to hospital where he died from multi organ failure and cocaine toxicity. 

All officers involved in the incident were treated as witnesses throughout our investigation.

Following the incident we investigated a complaint from Mr Prince’s family about how Sussex Police notify the next of kin when detainees or people in their care are hospitalised or die and Sussex Police have accepted our recommendation to improve their approach to this.

During the investigation we found problems with faulty Body Worn Video equipment and Sussex Police have accepted our learning recommendation regarding this.

IOPC Regional Director Sarah Green yesterday said:

“My thoughts remain with Mr Prince’s family, friends and all those affected by his death.

“Our investigation concluded there was no indication officers may have breached standards of professional behaviour and despite efforts to save his life he sadly died later in hospital.”

An inquest into the death of Mr Prince was held at the County Cricket Ground, Hove and on Friday 13 March 2020 it recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

A summary of our final report will be published in due course.