A man has died in police custody in Merthyr Tydfil following his arrest for alleged drug offences. James Barnes, 45, was found unwell in a cell at Merthyr Bridewell Police Station in the early hours of Wednesday, September 21. He before he died shortly afterwards, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The watchdog, which has since begun its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Barnes’ death, says the man had been stopped by South Wales Police officers in Treforest at around 8pm during the evening before he died. Mr Barnes and the car he was driving were searched before he was taken to Pontypridd station where he was strip searched. He was then arrested for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, but he wasn’t charged.
Mr Barnes was then transported to custody at Bridewell where his detention was authorised at 10.30pm, and he was placed on regular welfare checks while he was in his cell. But at 4.30am custody staff said they noticed Mr Barnes became ill.
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Despite immediately starting first aid work and calling an ambulance, the IOPC say Mr Barnes was pronounced dead shortly afterwards by paramedics. After South Wales Police notified the IOPC of the incident, investigators attended the station and took statements from the officers and staff.
CCTV footage is being reviewed as well as police body-worn video footage. The IOPC says it is also analysing custody logs, with all officers being treated as witnesses. Mr Barnes’ post-mortem was held on September 23, and further tests are being carried out. The Coroner has been informed.
The IOPC Director for Wales, Catrin Evans, said: “We have met with Mr Barnes’ family to express our sympathies for their loss and to explain how our investigation will progress. Where someone has sadly died while in police custody, it is important that we carefully and impartially investigate all the circumstances.
“We are examining whether the search, arrest and detention of Mr Barnes were carried out in line with the relevant local force and national policy and procedures, and whether the level of care provided to him while in custody was appropriate.”
Assistant Chief Constable for South Wales Police, Mark Travis, said: “The death of James Barnes while in police custody is a tragedy and we will continue to offer our deepest condolences to his family. We immediately referred the circumstances surrounding his death to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who have decided to carry out an independent investigation into whether the search, arrest and detention of Mr Barnes were carried out in line with the relevant local force and national policy and procedures, and whether the level of care provided to him while in custody was appropriate.
"South Wales Police is fully cooperating with the IOPC investigation and are providing them with all of the information and material they have requested. We acknowledge the impact of the death may have on Mr Barnes’ local community and we welcome the independent oversight to help us establish the full picture of what took place.”
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