Custody death cop 'would act the same'

Sean Rigg, a 40-year-old musician, was held by police after a disturbance in Balham, south London.

Despite having seen a number of computer-aided dispatches referring to Mr Rigg and stating that he had mental health issues, Inspector Andrew Dunn did not treat him with extra care, Southwark coroner's court heard.

Coroner Dr Andrew Harris asked Mr Dunn if he thought he should have asked the officers who had arrested Mr Rigg if he showed any signs of mental problems.

"Would you agree it was foreseeable that there may have been urgent medical attention needed, and to find out, you would have had to ask that question?" he asked.

Mr Dunn responded: "The circumstances that were apparent to me at the time, I didn't feel a pressing need to ask that question."

Dr Harris continued: "It was feasible that medical treatment may have been needed?"

The officer said: "At that moment in time there was not a need.

"In five minutes, circumstances may have changed, but at that time I felt I had sufficient knowledge of the circumstances and it wasn't necessary to call for emergency care at that time."

Mr Dunn told the coroner that he had been trained to deal with detainees with mental health issues and was aware of the protocol of taking an individual to hospital if they violently resisted arrest in a prolonged manner.

The coroner said Mr Rigg had clearly resisted arrest and was violent but that the question was whether the resistance had been prolonged.

Dr Harris said he was simply asking: "Would you have put yourself in a better position if you had have asked that question?"

Inspector Dunn agreed that he would have been.

The inspector was asked by a member of the jury if he would have done anything differently four years ago.

"It's difficult with hindsight," he said.

"The circumstances that were there at the time, I have to say I would have done exactly the same."

The inquest continues.

paddym@peoples-press.com