inquest opens into death of martin middleton

89-93 Fonthill Road, London N4 3JHPhone: 020 7263 1111 Fax: 020 7561 0799inquest@inquest.org.uk www.inquest.org.ukFor Immediate Release 31 August 2007INQUEST OPENS INTO DEATH OF MARTIN MIDDLETON10.00am Monday 3 September 2007Before HM Coroner for West Yorkshire (Eastern District), David HinchliffSitting at Leeds Coroner’s Court, Symons House, Belgrave Street, Leeds LS2 8DDThe inquest into the death of 23 year old Martin Middleton who died on 24 August 2004will begin on Monday 3 September 2007. The hearing is expected to last two weeks.Martin, who had a long history of mental health difficulties and previous attempts at suicide,was found hanging at his home. Martin had been detained under Section 136 of the MentalHealth Act 1983 and taken to Killingbeck Police Station in Leeds as a place of safety in theearly hours of Monday 23 August 2004. Police had detained Martin while responding to acall that a man answering his description was suicidal, and had discovered a number ofsuicide notes and a noose in his flat. Martin remained at the police station for approximately15 minutes before being taken by police officers and left at a friend’s house. The mandatoryassessment by a doctor and/or approved social worker did not take place at the policestation.Following an investigation into the circumstances of Martin’s death by the IndependentPolice Complaints Commission (IPCC) the case was referred to the Crown ProsecutionService who decided in January 2007 that no officers should face criminal charges at thattime for the way that Martin was managed at Killingbeck Police Station.Martin’s family hopes the inquest will examine a number of key issues, including:• Why, given the evidence at Martin’s flat, the officers failed to arrange for themandatory assessment of Martin under the Mental Health Act.• Whether West Yorkshire Police have ensured that custody officers who are dealingwith many detainees with mental health difficulties are properly trained in theprovisions of the Mental Health Act and their responsibilities and duties under thatAct.Laura and Keeley Middleton, Martin’s sisters, commented:“It is over three years since our brother Martin died. It has been a very long wait forthe inquest into his death. We have many questions about what happened to Martinand we hope there will be some answers given at the inquest”Helen Shaw, co-director of INQUEST said:CAMPAIGN FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AWARD WINNER 1999

“INQUEST has longstanding concerns about the deaths of people with mental healthproblems in or following detention in police custody. We hope that the inquest willprovide answers as to how it was that someone in such a vulnerable state was notafforded the standard of care he required to ensure his physical safety.”Mr. Middleton’s family is being represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members FionaBorrill of Lester Morrill Solicitors and barrister Nick Stanage of Garden Court NorthChambers.Notes to EditorsINQUEST is the only non-governmental organisation in England and Wales that worksdirectly with the families of those who die in custody. It provides an independent free legaland advice service to bereaved people on inquest procedures and their rights in the coroner’scourts.Further Informationwww.inquest.org.ukCatherine Hayes, Caseworker, INQUEST office 020 7263 1111Fiona Borrill, Lester Morrill Solicitors office 0113 391 60152