Inquest Jury watched moment Birmingham dad collapsed in cell as officers laughed and joked outside

Jan Butler, mother of Lloyd Butler - pic by Linda Chapman
Jan Butler, mother of Lloyd Butler – pic by Linda Chapman

source: Birmingham Mail 
published: 18 June 2014

A jury watched the horrific moment a Birmingham dad collapsed face down in his police cell and went into cardiac arrest – after ‘distracted’ officers had been laughing and joking outside. CCTV showed officers browsing the force Facebook page and chatting about the Blues before Lloyd Butler, 39, staggered around his cell and later hit his head on the wall.

The dad-of-two was supposed to be on “constant watch” but PC Dean Woodcock, giving evidence, admitted officers had failed to check on his condition every 30 minutes, and later every 15 minutes. He confessed there had been “distractions” from colleagues.

Mr Butler, from Tile Cross, was taken to Stechford police station on August 4, 2010, after reportedly becoming aggressive towards his family when he returned from drinking with friends and appeared drunk.

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West Midlands Police cleared of wrongdoing after [man] died in crash outside City Hospital

Kevin Burrissource: Birmingham Mail 
published: 17 June 2014

A police watchdog has cleared officers of any wrongdoing after a driver they were following died in a crash as he raced to see his stabbed brother in hospital. Kevin Burris, 29, (a relative of 4WardEver UK’s Tippa Naphtali) was killed in the tragedy four years ago and was found by his own mother, who had been at the bedside of his critically-injured sibling Karl.

He was on his way to City Hospital with four friends after hearing his brother had been stabbed at a Smethwick nightclub and was in intensive care.

Karl survived, but Kevin died when his car crashed into a lamppost in Dudley Road, Winson Green, just yards from the hospital in the early hours of March 26 in 2010.

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‘Street triage’ mental health scheme awarded for excellence

unmarked ambulancesource: West Midlands Police
published: 12 June 2014

A ‘street triage’ pilot scheme involving police, the ambulance service and mental health service was recognised for its partnership working at an awards ceremony last night (11 June). 

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust’s ‘Quality and Excellence’ awards recognised staff who have provided exceptional care to people who use their service.

West Midlands Police, along with West Midlands Ambulance Service and mental health colleagues, scooped second place in the ‘Working in Partnership’ category for their involvement in the successful mental health triage initiative.

The team, which has been running for six months, operates a car with a police officer, mental health nurse and paramedic, who respond to 999 calls to help people who need mental health care and provide them with the right support.

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