Inquest Finds Police Restraint May Have Contributed to Thomas Orchard's Death

Cornwall Police issue an 'unreserved apology' for their failings, while Orchard's family criticizes the force's lack of accountability.

Thomas Orchard, a 32-year-old man with paranoid schizophrenia, died seven days after having an emergency response belt placed across his face when he was taken into custody in Exeter in 2012.
The inquest jury concluded that the prolonged use of the belt, which was used to prevent people in custody from spitting and biting, may have contributed to his death.
Devon and Cornwall Police issued an 'unreserved apology' for its failings, including inadequate training and failure to identify the risk to breathing from the use of the belt.
Orchard's family criticized the police for defending their reputation rather than taking accountability for their actions.
In 2018, Devon and Cornwall Police admitted breaking health and safety rules over the use of the restraint but did not accept that the belt directly led to Mr Orchard's death.