Tragedy of man who died outside police station an hour after his release from custodyhttps://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... n-22991461Michael Rochford was released from Longsight station at around 1am having received a fixed penalty notice
Image: Manchester Evening NewsA man died when he was hit by a black cab outside a police station just an hour after he was released from custody there, an inquest heard.
Michael Rochford, 66, was struck on the southbound carriageway of Stockport Road in Longsight at around 2.10am on Saturday, December 8, 2018.
An inquest into his death at Manchester Coroner's Court heard he was sat down in a bus and taxi lane around 200 metres from the station at the time. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The hackney carriage driver said in a statement he was 'deeply shocked and saddened', but could do nothing to avoid Mr Rochford.
He described it as an 'unavoidable accident' - and the court heard no criminal charges were brought against him.
Mr Rochford, from Beswick, one of six siblings, was released from custody at the station at around 1am having received a fixed penalty notice.
The inquest heard he had a history of physical and mental health problems, and of drinking alcohol to excess on some occasions.
His family said they had concerns over his release from custody in the early hours in the rain, but senior coroner Nigel Meadows said after a four-day inquest he found there was no 'systemic failure'.
The court heard he was given directions to a bus stop and Mr Rochford said he intended to go to a homeless shelter in Ancoats.
Mr Rochford was arrested outside a bar in the Northern Quarter on the Friday night, the court heard.
Police officers, the inquest heard, found him 'shouting at the public' and he was also in possession of prescribed drugs.
He smelt of alcohol, officers said, but did not appear drunk, and was 'calm, co-operative' and able to talk with the officers involved.
Mr Meadows said he found a custody sergeant didn't follow custody policy to the letter, in that he didn't have a detailed discussion with a contracted healthcare professional who had deemed Mr Rochford fit to be detained and fit to be released, to ensure they had a full understanding of the case.
The healthcare professional, Robert Davies, said he didn't see the custody record, just Mr Rochford.
He said he carried out a mental state examination, but didn't record it because an IT system was down.
Mr Rochford, said Mr Davies, was in 'good spirits and good humour' - and said he was 'going home under his own steam'.
Mr Davies went on to say Mr Rochford was polite, acceptable to advice, amenable and 'not obstructive in anyway'.
He said he was satisfied he carried out a 'full and thorough assessment' but admitted it wasn't recorded properly.
The death was referred to police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the inquest heard, and Greater Manchester Police also investigated.
Det Chief Insp Richard Thompson said Mr Rochford was booked in then assessed.
He said no issues of concern were found, his release from custody was 'justified' and the issuing of the fine notice was 'appropriate'.
It's not know what caused Mr Rochford to sit in the road or where he had been in the hour before the collision.
The arresting officer, the court heard, did not think Mr Rochford 'had clear features of intoxication'.
Mr Meadows said he was 'concerned about the significant omission of record keeping' on the part of Mr Davies and would write to the regulatory body.
The senior coroner said: "I am not satisfied there is a breach of systemic or general duty.
"Michael was clearly someone who was loved by his family. He had a history of a number of physical and mental health problems. Not all were known to the family.
"His brother recognised Michael had a history of drinking to excess on some occasions and had been on diazepam for some time. He had an unusual lifestyle.
"His brother was clear that in his mind, Michael would be regarded as vulnerable. I accept that entirely in the general sense.
"The only appropriate verdict I can make is road traffic collision. I do not think it would be appropriate to have a lengthy narrative.
"There is a system that if followed is appropriate.
"I cannot see anything in practical terms as a concern that would be appropriate to raise on a prevention of death report."
Tragically, the inquest heard a witness saw Mr Rochford sat in the road, stopped his car and went into the police station to report it, but the collision happened before the report could be made.
After the inquest, Mr Rochford's family said they remained of the view he shouldn't have been released.
"We are upset," they said.
"He had issues and they have not been addressed."
Login
Register
FAQ
