AIBU to think that if you're in police custody you shouldn't be able to get out of the car?

Was the location, perhaps, actually the scene of the arrest and she escaped or did they stop there on the journey to the station?

This was a few years ago so with the lack of resources and other commitments, things may well be very different everywhere now.

Got you. Agree with the two officers at all times. I also think the general lack of officers available to facilitate the waiting to be assessed and the woeful mental health facilities (here anyway) play a part. Don’t want to derail but good to exchange knowledge!

Agreed in fact I think it's the met, but one force have had a lot of criticism last year/year before for saying they are not going to attend mh issues. Many mh problems end up with a person in a police cell

We've gone off on a bit of a tangent here but, yes it most likely does differ depending on where you're from so my response might not apply here, fair enough.

Where I was, they would not have taken anyone into a Police custody suite for MH issues unless there was literally no other option.
Instead there'd be minimum 2 officers with them at the hospital, often for their entire shift, while they waited in a private room to be assessed.
Anyone under s.136 would be taken straight to a mental health facility but police would not be able to leave them unattended until they'd been assessed and, if necessary, a bed found.

Why would you be stupid enough to get out of the car on a motorway anyway? Everyone knows it is risky.

Spent some time with a mate who's ex police and we got into some of the things he's seen/experienced so discount nothing.

One scenario that immediately came to mind. Girl in back of car. Says going to be sick/threatens to piss/shit in car. They stop, open back. She kicks/pushes copper and is out. Or starts to retch at side of road Jumped out and runs across the motorway...

Sadly she was killed. The cops will be blamed because it's cheap political points (like cop who shot know gangster...who BBC gave a whole documentary to on what a nice boy he was)

I'll wait until the inquest before I start having a go at the police. Tragic news though.

It differs obviously in Scotland and England (different acts, I’m in Scotland) but a quick Google shows the premise is the same. Where I am it would depend on their behaviour but they can’t just rock up to hospitals if they were a risk to the public or psyche wards (they wouldn’t know if a bed/place was available) without a mental health professional assessing them first, so they would brought into custody in the first instance, for that to be facilitated and determined if they should be detained to hospital. Like I said that’s where I am.

Unless things have changed in the last couple of years the guidance was always that a police station should only ever be used for this purpose as an absolute last resort.

In the statement it says police vehicle.

There’s so much we don’t know.
Maybe she said she was going to be sick so they pulled over, unbelted her, and she ran.
Maybe she got out of the cuffs.
Maybe she started having a seizure.

That’s not quite correct. A custody suite would be considered a place of safety for the police to take someone suffering from mental health concerns to be assessed by a mental health professional who are the ones who decide if they should be detained under the Mental Health Act.

Agreed.

It didn't.

I was saying it is highly unlikely to be MH related as the limited statement said she was being transported to custody.

I've read another news article that says that the girl was being transported in a police van. I would have thought that a police van was even more secure than a car but not sure what to think really.🤔

What a pointless thread. Of course she shouldn’t have been able to get out. Of course something went badly wrong and of course this doesn’t happen often and this incident is a freak rare occurrence that needs fully investigated.

@sel2223 where did it say she was detained under mental health act? I missed that bit!

It seems from the limited statement, that she had previously been under the police care. I wonder if it’s a MH breakdown. The officers pulled onto the hard shoulder for reasons unknown. She then managed to escape and run onto the south bound lane.
I can’t imagine how horrific for the car driver and the officers. Plus her poor family.

The M5 was closed for over 12 hours in total due to the investigation. I believe it reopened at lunchtime.

Why she was being transported on the M5 I don’t know. Both towns have a police station although the holding cells may well be at Bridgwater now. There’s a new police building there.

All very sad. Feel for the driver/drivers that hit her and everyone involved.

Actually no, Police custody would only be used as an absolute last resort for anyone detained under the mental health act.
They would be taken to a hospital, mental health facility or other suitable place of safety

What the fuck is the point in speculation at this point.

What a load of crap. She could have kicked, spat, faked medical episode. Police have to cope with horrendous crap everyday more than most people will ever realise.

terrible for the girls loved ones and the officers involved - very sad all round

I don’t trust the police unfortunately and pray the truth is able to come out.

Yes,even those with MH issues are taken into custody!

Either concern for welfare,own safety or committed a crime.....she will be assessed when appropriate adult is present