A New South Wales coroner is recommending further training for police officers dealing with intoxicated people that do not meet the criteria for detention after the death of a man in the Hunter region.
Anthony Gilbert, 41, died of acute alcohol intoxication on January 29, 2019.
A four-day inquest heard his mother found him lying unresponsive on the front steps of their family home in Dungog.
Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan made the single recommendation that the NSW Police Commissioner consider further training and education in relation to how officers are advised to respond to intoxicated people who do not meet the criteria for detention.
Magistrate Ryan, who handed down her findings today, said it would be a matter for those responsible for police training to determine the form and content of the guidance.
In her written findings she noted that the inquest had been a "painful experience for Mr Gilbert's family, who relived the sadness of his last days and hours".
"I offer them sincere sympathy for the loss of their son, brother, husband and father," Magistrate Ryan said.
Intoxicated, but not a danger
Mr Gilbert had been staying at a hotel in Maitland for several days prior to his death.
The inquest heard when he failed to check out the hotel manager entered his room and found him lying on the bed intoxicated.
An ambulance was called and Mr Gilbert was assessed, but he refused to go to hospital.
With no public transport to Dungog that night, police took him back to the station at Maitland for the family to collect him.
The inquest heard due to the time and his intoxicated state Mr Gilbert's parents asked for him to be detained at the police station overnight because they could not collect him or adequately look after him.
The officers involved told the inquest they did not consider Mr Gilbert in need of physical protection because of his intoxication and in their opinion he was unlikely to cause injury to himself or anyone else.
After a discussion officers decided to drive Mr Gilbert home to Dungog themselves, but did not ring his parents to inform them of the decision.
He was taken to the Dungog home and left sitting on the front steps.
Mr Gilbert's parents told the inquest they only knew their son was home when they saw the police vehicle driving away.
They said they tried to lift Mr Gilbert up the stairs but lacked the strength, so they left him sitting on the step.
His mother went outside to check on him the next morning and found him in the same position, but he had died during the night.
